Hanumankind comes one step closer to home with a new reckoning of a track, 'Run It Up'. Rooted in Kerala’s soul and powered by the thunderous percussion of Chenda, the track is a response to the call from his ancestors, the fight for justice, and the relentless pursuit of something bigger than individual wins.
There’s no mistaking the urgency in his voice. Hanumankind isn’t just flexing about making it big; he’s carrying the legacy of those who came before him. This is a call to reclaim what was lost; to rewrite a story that has too often been told by someone else. In conjuction with immaculate production by Kalmi, the Chenda, an instrument synonymous with Kerala’s temples and processions, plays like a battle drum here, echoing through the track as a declaration of where he comes from.
The music video by the rapper's long-time collaborator Bijoy Shetty makes this message even sharper. The visual language is drenched in Kerala’s traditions with Kalaripayattu warriors moving through the air and the painted faces of Kathakali & Theyyam dancers telling a tale of gods, demons, and the struggle in between. Beyond just aesthetic choices; they’re weapons of storytelling, reclaiming narratives that history often erases.
With this release, Hanumankind is doubling down on his roots and the idea that no one gets left behind. His community has often been treated as outsiders; judged for not speaking the so-called 'right' language, but he subverts the stance by saying "...savages speak in a language y’all don’t understand, you a foreigner", making it clear that this is his land, his culture, his people. If you don’t understand their struggles, their history, and their fight, then you are the outsider.
But ‘Run It Up’ isn’t just about looking back, it’s also about moving forward and about breaking cycles of struggle. Hanumankind spits bars that recognise oppression but refuse to accept it. He’s here to flip the script; to make sure the love and sacrifice of those before him don’t go to waste. He asserts that he is looking forward to a collective victory by betting on his roots.
The fiery proclamation of identity and the cinematic ode to Kerala's warrior spirit in Run It Up is a culture-defining statement. This is what it looks like to carry history on your back and still sprint toward the future. This is what it sounds like when the motherland calls — and you answer.
Follow Hanumankind here and watch the video at the top of the page.
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