SNJ

Origin

Guarulhos, SP

Years active

1996–2019

Genres

hip hop, rap

Biography

Somos Nós a Justiça, widely known by the acronym SNJ, is a prominent Brazilian rap group founded in 1996 in the city of Guarulhos, São Paulo. Throughout its history, the group has undergone numerous lineup changes, featuring artists such as Sombra, Bastardo, Cabeça, Cris, and DJ W.Jay. Their early work established them as a significant voice within the Brazilian hip-hop scene, highlighted by the release of their debut single and subsequent records that captured the socio-cultural realities of urban youth.

The group achieved major mainstream and critical success with the 2000 release of their album Somos Nós, which featured the iconic hit "Se tu Lutas, tu Conquistas" and "Viajando na Balada." The latter earned an MTV Video Music Brasil nomination for Best Rap Music Video in 2001. Over the years, SNJ continued to evolve, releasing notable projects like O Show Deve Continuar in 2003—which won the Hutúz Award for Song of the Year—and collaborating with other notable acts such as the rock band CPM 22 on their 2007 album A Esperança é o Alimento da Alma.

Despite periods of hiatus, lineup shifts, and individual solo endeavors by members like Cris, SNJ remains a foundational pillar of Brazilian rap music. Their enduring legacy is marked by conscious lyrics, energetic live performances, and a lasting impact on the development of hip-hop culture in São Paulo and across Brazil, alongside contemporaries and peers in the national rap movement.