Hanumankind interview: Kerala-origin Bengaluru rapper catapults into the big leagues with ‘Big Dawgs’

Hanumankind’s new song and music video for ‘Big Dawgs’ with producer Kalmi and filmmaker Bijoy Shetty has become his biggest release yet

The YouTube comments section for Hanumankind’s latest release, ‘Big Dawgs’ has brought the whole world to the Kerala-origin, Bengaluru-based rapper’s doorstep. From Kenya and Turkey to Kazakhstan and the US, everyone is tuning in to see Hanumankind in the Well of Death, the fairground attraction where people drive motorbikes or cars in a silo held in place by centrifugal force.

The video received worldwide acclaim and plenty of hype from his own hip-hop heroes such as Project Pat, Bun B and more. Hanumankind says it was “terrifying” to be inside the car as it defied gravity.

“They call it the Well of Death for a reason. You have to credit those who perform there everyday because they risk their lives to keep people entertained. I was just there for a day, but I’m blessed they accepted me into their community and let me partake in something like this,” he says.

The video was directed by Hanumankind’s long-time collaborator, Bijoy Shetty, who first thought of the Well of Death as a venue for their video. The idea resonated with their ethos of “no risk, no reward” and the rapper says, “This is something all of us have grown up watching, not just in India, but around the world too. We prepped ourselves, shot and released it, and now, here we are.”

The video was shot in Malappuram, not too far from Hanumankind’s home. Their previous team-up, the early 2023 song ‘Go To Sleep’ with music by Parimal Shais, paid tribute to Fight Club and still lives in memory of those who follow Hanumankind’s gritty, no-holds-barred rap. It took a year and a half, but now, ‘Big Dawgs’ with music by Kalmi, is Hanumankind’s biggest song yet.

With over 4.1 million views on YouTube and 4.1 million streams on Spotify since its release on July 9, a shorter reel introducing the ‘Big Dawgs’ video has garnered 4.7 million views on Instagram. It even blew up on TikTok with 3.7 million views on a review video.

With top hip-hop publications such as Pigeons and Planes as well as their Instagram page shining a spotlight, the world was watching and judging Hanumankind and the song. “I’m grateful how it all came together,” he says.