DJ Hum

Origin

São Paulo, SP

Also known as

Humberto Martins Arruda

Years active

1985

Genres

hip hop, rap, soul, funk, r&b

Instruments

turntables, drum machine, sampler, pandeiro

Biography

DJ Hum, born Humberto Martins Arruda in São Paulo, is a prominent Brazilian music producer, DJ, and rapper who began his career in 1985. He is widely recognized as one of the pioneers of Brazilian hip-hop, famously forming an influential partnership with rapper Thaíde in 1986 that yielded several classic albums. Over the decades, he has blended American soul and funk influences with Brazilian rhythms, eventually founding the rap group Motirô alongside Lino Crizz and releasing his debut solo album, DJ Hum e o Expresso do Groove, in 2018.

Throughout his career, DJ Hum has collaborated with a diverse array of national artists, producing remixes and contributing to albums for major figures across the Brazilian music scene such as Chico César, Paula Lima, and Fernanda Abreu. His innovative mixing of hip-hop and traditional Brazilian sounds even took him to international stages, including a standout performance at the Midem music festival in Cannes in 1999. In addition to his production and recording work, he has worked as a television musical consultant and hosts a radio show in São Paulo.