The YouTube comments section for Hanumankind’s latest release, ‘Big Dawgs,’ has brought global attention to the Kerala-origin, Bengaluru-based rapper. From Kenya and Turkey to Kazakhstan and the US, viewers from around the world are tuning in to witness Hanumankind perform in the iconic Well of Death—a fairground attraction where daring individuals drive motorbikes or cars inside a silo, held in place by centrifugal force.
The video has not only achieved worldwide acclaim but has also received significant praise from notable figures in the hip-hop community, such as Project Pat and Bun B. Reflecting on the experience, Hanumankind described it as “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 every day 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 explained.
The video, directed by Hanumankind’s long-time collaborator Bijoy Shetty, was shot in Malappuram, not far from the rapper’s home. Shetty initially conceived the Well of Death as the perfect venue for their video, aligning it with their ethos of “no risk, no reward.” Hanumankind noted, “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.”
Hanumankind’s previous team-up with music producer Parimal Shais on the early 2023 song ‘Go To Sleep,’ paid tribute to Fight Club and has remained memorable for fans of his gritty, no-holds-barred rap style. However, ‘Big Dawgs,’ featuring music by Kalmi, is arguably Hanumankind’s biggest hit yet. Released on July 9, the song has garnered over 4.1 million views on YouTube and 4.1 million streams on Spotify. A shorter reel introducing the ‘Big Dawgs’ video has attracted 4.7 million views on Instagram and an additional 3.7 million views on TikTok through a review video.
With prominent hip-hop publications such as Pigeons and Planes highlighting the track, the world was keenly watching and evaluating Hanumankind and his music. “I’m grateful how it all came together,” he expressed.
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As the video brought audiences together in the YouTube comments section, it also exposed the rapper to social media’s notorious negativity. Critics questioned the organic growth of ‘Big Dawgs,’ some alleging that the pages promoting the song were paid for. In today’s media landscape, many acknowledged that financial investment is necessary to promote a song as impactful as ‘Big Dawgs.’
Hanumankind, however, emphasized that the song’s success was largely organic. “We have a marketing budget, so we know if, where, and how much money is going anywhere. We also know when it hasn’t. We’d keep calling people to ask, ‘Did you pay for this?’ and they would reply, ‘It just picked up.’”
The rapper expressed that it would be disingenuous if the growth wasn’t organic. “This is along the lines of how something just gets picked up—it is a byproduct of putting in the work,” he said. Hanumankind has been building a supportive community within the country, describing it as his base, home, and heart. He credits the same community for providing millions of streams since his debut EP, Kalari, in 2019.
This very community also taught him to confront trolls and racist comments that emerged as ‘Big Dawgs’ gained popularity. “I think it’s an effect of our time. There is a lot of negativity going around, and people aren’t happy, so they find reasons to attack you,” he said, unfazed by the criticism. “I think hate is quite normal in this world. It shouldn’t deter a person from doing what they’re supposed to do.”
Hanumankind also received commendations from his idols, Project Pat of Three 6 Mafia, and Bun B of UGK. “These are my idols, my heroes. They hit me up, they’re messaging me, telling me that they appreciate what we’re doing over here. Now I don’t need to care what anyone else says,” he concluded.
The story of Hanumankind, a rapper from Kerala making waves on the global stage with his daring video ‘Big Dawgs,’ is a testament to the power of community, creativity, and resilience in the face of adversity.
