What is Montagem? The Viral Brazilian Funk & Phonk Trend Explained

If you have spent any time scrolling through TikTok, Instagram Reels, or YouTube Shorts recently, you have likely run into a hyper-charged, bass-heavy electronic track that feels both chaotic and intensely hypnotic. Often labeled with “MTG” or “Montagem” in the title, these tracks are driving a massive global shift in modern internet music.

So, who—or what—is “montagem”?

Contrary to what some first-time listeners might think, “Montagem” is not a single music artist or producer. Instead, it is a revolutionary subgenre of Brazilian Funk (Funk Carioca) and a production style that has taken the internet by storm.

What Does “Montagem” Mean?

In Portuguese, montagem translates to “montage” or “editing”. True to its name, a montagem track functions as a frantic sonic collage.

Producers take pieces of existing songs—ranging from classic Brazilian MPB (Música Popular Brasileira) and American pop hits to vintage horror movie dialogue, creepy anime voice clips, and viral internet audio—and chop, splice, and layer them over heavy percussion.

The result is a fast-paced, high-adrenaline pastiche where familiar samples are warped into something entirely new, aggressive, and danceable.

Defining Characteristics of the Sound

While traditional Brazilian funk relies on a steady 130–150 BPM groove and call-and-response vocals, Montagem throws conventional structures out the window:

• BPM Overdrive: Montagem tracks frequently push past 150 BPM, blurring the lines between baile funk, techno, and hardstyle.
• Aggressive Sound Design: Heavy, distorted 808 basslines, screeching synth stabs, industrial metallic clangs, and laser sound effects dominate the mix.
• Nostalgic and Creepy Chops: The use of hyper-pitched, heavily compressed vocal samples gives many tracks an eerie, nocturnal, or internet-dystopian atmosphere.
• Instant Adrenaline: Unlike traditional songs that build up slowly, montagems usually drop straight into their heaviest sections, providing an immediate dopamine hit.

From the Favelas of Brazil to the Global Stage

The roots of montagem trace back to the grassroots music scene in the favelas of Brazil, where DJs at street parties (bailes) experimented with sampling technology. Over time, bedroom producers equipped with basic software like FL Studio on budget laptops began pushing boundaries, sharing their creations on platforms like SoundCloud and TikTok.