Fresh off a homecoming-packed stop on his Home Run tour in Kochi, rapper, singer and songwriter Hanumankind is gearing up for his Bengaluru show. Still riding the high of a night he describes as “very wholesome, very homely — but also damn rowdy and hectic,” he says the Kochi gig felt like a true return to his people.“I went home that night feeling like I’d actually gone home,” he says, recalling family, friends, and even his father turning up to witness the chaos. Bengaluru, he insists, is home, too. “Even without a place of my own, the friendships, collaborators and memories here anchor me. After the traffic — because wow, that’s unreal — it’s the energy. I miss that. The city lets you exist in layers. Bengaluru has a vibe no other city really touches. Every time I come back, memories rush in. I spent six or seven years here, so it all hits at once.”
I’m both my best friend and my worst enemy. I just have to choose to be my own best friend often and I’ve been doing that, lately. Instead of succumbing to what you might call pressure, I’ve realised that I’m my biggest obstacle. So however you approach it, for me, it’s about being content with the process
Hanumankind
‘I know I will make mistakes along the way. Not every step will be perfect — and I’ve made peace with that’You have collaborations in India and abroad, your own music and videos, and music for films as well. Where do you feel most comfortable creatively?I don’t feel comfortable anywhere. Comfort is the enemy of progress. The only way you grow. is to get out of your comfort zone. Even my earlier work involved risks. An English rapper jumping onto a Kannada song (Maadeva, with Charan Raj and Sanjit Hegde) — alongside such prominent figures — wasn’t an easy choice, but it turned into an incredible experience. The moment I start feeling too comfortable, I know it’s time to push myself again.What are you expecting from the Bengaluru concert?Every city is different, but Bengaluru is special — it embraced me before anyone else did. They gave me a chance when nobody had to. From the very beginning, when there was no hype or expectations, it was always just someone telling a friend, ‘Maybe check this guy out.’ And by the end of the night, we were all family. That’s Bengaluru. That’s the heart of this city. A lot of people coming for this show have been part of my journey from the start. This city knows who I really am. They don’t need extra noise or narratives. They’ve seen me when I was just a kid in this space — and they still sing along, jump the same way, and show up with the same love.Your lyrics are very personal. Do you think about how you express yourself without offending people?Living itself is about making choices, and expression is part of that. Freedom of expression in India isn’t the same as it is in other countries, but it doesn’t mean you stop expressing yourself. I got into this art form because I needed to speak my truth. If people like it, great. If they don’t, that’s fine too. Ultimately, you’re doing this for yourself, not the world. Separating expression from reaction is important.Amidst the constant noise of opinions and expectations around you, is there a necessity to work on keeping yourself grounded and sane?I already have enough to figure out in my own head without adding everyone else’s opinions into the mix. Music was the only space where I truly felt like myself, and I’m lucky I have that. Staying sane, for me, is about recognising that I get to do something I love, support my family, and work with people I care about. People will always have opinions. What matters is understanding what you can and can’t control.
How people receive art, and even how they create it, is deeply tied to the society we live in. The issues we’re dealing with as a community, the general energy of the times — it all feeds into the music. Right now, there’s a lot of pain, frustration, and anger in the world. Everyone is constantly searching for answers
Hanumankind
Have you ever found yourself in a situation where you thought, ‘I shouldn’t have taken this up’ or felt you wanted to walk away from something, but it was not an option?There have been moments when I wasn’t fully happy with certain choices, but making art in this space comes with its own realities. I know I’ll make mistakes along the way, and I’ve made peace with that. Not every step will be perfect. I’m aware of the privilege I have to do what I love, while many people don’t have that choice. At the same time, if you want to say or create something meaningful, you can’t give up on the space.Has your definition of hip-hop changed over time? The core definition hasn’t changed for me — that’s exactly why I got into hip-hop in the first place. But if we’re talking about the larger atmosphere around hip-hop today, then yes, a lot has changed. How people receive art, and even how they create it, is deeply tied to the society we live in. The issues we’re dealing with as a community feeds into the music. Right now, there’s a lot of pain, frustration, and anger in the world. Competition is intense — no job feels secure, AI is reshaping livelihoods, and there’s a general sense that people don’t feel safe anymore. So it’s easy to say hip-hop is losing touch with its roots, but you also have to look at the world it’s responding to. Hip-hop, like all art, is a reflection of society. Personally, that’s not how I choose to express myself. But at its core, hip-hop still comes from the same place — a need to express something real. When you’re out in the world, do you ever feel caught between being ‘too Indian’ and ‘too international’? Being Indian isn’t something I consciously perform — it’s who I am. At the same time, my American influences are just as natural to me. When I’m in India, I’m often seen as too American, and when I’m abroad, I’m too Indian. That tension exists, but measuring your life or success by how others perceive you is a difficult road. For me, it’s about making the music I want to make, in the way that feels most honest. I was making English music here when people told me not to — I didn’t listen. Now there’s pressure to replicate that, but there’s no blueprint. There’s no right or wrong way to do this. There’s also no need to prove your Indianness. Representation should come naturally.
I was making English music here when everyone was telling me not to. I didn’t listen. Now suddenly, people are telling others to make English music because it worked for me. But there’s no blueprint. There’s no right or wrong way to do this
Hanumankind
With reels and digital platforms dominating, does it feel like people are just consuming music without much thought?Globally, we’re living in a moment dominated by short-form, highly stimulating content. We’ve reached a point of information overload. Technology and AI make information instantly accessible, which is largely a good thing, but not everyone knows how to use it meaningfully — myself included. That’s why I try to limit my screen time and stay away from social media. Many people now want to follow your journey. What does it take to keep pushing yourself and creating new benchmarks?I have people who inspire me too. I’m both my best friend and my worst enemy. I just have to choose to be my own best friend more often and I’ve been getting better at that, lately. Instead of succumbing to what you might call pressure, I’ve realised that I’m my biggest obstacle. So for me, it’s about being content with the process.When people engage with your work, what do you hope they will take away from it?Honestly, I don’t think should, decide what people take from my work. Everyone will take what they want from it. The only thing I’d say is: make your own choices. Inspiration shouldn’t be limited to musicians or public figures. A lot of it comes from everyday life. That’s what inspires me. Pay attention to your day-to-day life, and stay present. If something works for you, great. If it doesn’t, go find what does. There’s no right way — you have to figure out yours.What’s next for you? What’s coming up—any new work, collaborations, or projects?For me, it’s all about the music right now. Last year was a big learning experience, and when I say I’m making music again, it comes from a place of trying to apply everything I’ve learned. I’m also excited about my U.S. tour in February. There are a couple of projects lined up, including a campaign that marks my first attempt at doing something a little more commercial. We’ll see how that goes. Ultimately, everything I’m doing revolves around music. After an injury last year, I had a lot of time to reflect, strip things back, and refocus. Now I feel ready again — the world is my oyster.
