What Does “Montagem” Mean in Phonk? The Story Behind the Underground Electronic Sound

If you have spent any time scrolling through TikTok, Instagram Reels, or YouTube over the last few years, chances are you have been hit by a wall of aggressive, heavy-bass beats accompanied by speeding cars, chaotic drifting edits, or intense workout montages.

At the center of this sonic wave is a single word appearing more and more in track titles: “Montagem.”

While it sounds mysterious to English speakers, the term carries a specific meaning, history, and cultural weight. So, what exactly does montagem mean in the world of phonk?

1. The Literal Definition: What is a Montagem?

The word montagem (pronounced mon-tah-ZHENG) is Portuguese for “montage,” “editing,” or “assembly.”

In visual arts and film, a montage is the process of selecting, editing, and piecing together separate clips to create a cohesive scene or sequence. In Brazil—where this specific wave of music originated—the term montagem has a long history in electronic and funk music, referring to a track assembled by stitching together various vocal samples, loops, and drum breaks.