| Phonk | |
|---|---|
| Stylistic origins | |
| Cultural origins | Early 2010s, United States,Memphis andHouston |
| Typical instruments | |
| Subgenres | |
| Regional scenes | |
| Russia | |
| Other topics | |
Phonk (/fɒŋk/ ⓘ) is a subgenre ofhip hop andtrap music directly inspired by 1990sMemphis rap. The genre is characterized by its use of vintage Memphis rap vocals,chopped and screwed production techniques, andsamples from early 1990s hip hop, often combined with samples fromjazz andfunk.
The genre emerged in theSouthern United States during the 1990s, with pioneers likeDJ Screw,Three 6 Mafia, andDJ Spanish Fly laying its groundwork. The term "phonk" was popularized in the early 2010s by rapper and producerSpaceGhostPurrp, who described it as a modern take onfunk-inspired hip hop.
In the late 2010s, a subgenre called drift phonk emerged in Russia, distinguished by its heavy use ofcowbells, aggressivebasslines, and faster tempos. Gaining widespread popularity through social media platforms likeTikTok, drift phonk became synonymous with the broader phonk genre, often overshadowing its original sound. However, in the mid-2020s, a Brazilian counterpart of phonk namedfunk automotivo has since then dominated social media and became widely synonymous with the genre.
Phonk took inspiration fromtrap roots in the Southern United States in the mid-1990s.[1] Artists or musical groups likeDJ Screw,X-Raided, DJ Spanish Fly,[2] DJ Squeeky,[3] and the collectiveThree 6 Mafia all helped pioneer the foundations for the genre to emerge many years later, with theHouston chopped and screwed seen as the precursor to the genre.[1] Artists such asSpaceGhostPurrp andLil Ugly Mane revived the sound in the form of phonk in the early 2010s.[4][5]
The word "phonk" was popularized by SpaceGhostPurrp,[6] who released tracks such as "Pheel tha Phonk", "Bringin' tha Phonk", and "Keep Bringin' tha Phonk" as well his debut album in 2012 calledMysterious Phonk: Chronicles of SpaceGhostPurrp.[7][8][9] In an interview, he explained that "phonk is slang for funk", in reference to theG-funk music genre.[10] YouTube channels such asRyan Celsius also helped popularize the genre.[11] Phonk producers continued to push this sound in theunderground, before the genre gained real momentum during the mid-2010s.[1][12]
By the end of 2017, phonk had shifted away from the "gritty, dark,Memphis-oriented sound", incorporating more modern vocals, with elements ofjazz and classichip hop.[1] This stream of phonk has been described as "rare phonk" by Celsius, characterized by "more of a cleaner, almost mainstream trap sound".[13] Between 2016 and 2018, phonk was one of the most listened genres on SoundCloud, with thehashtag #phonk among the most trending each year.[14][15][16]
Directly inspired by 1990sMemphis rap, phonk is characterized by old Memphis rap vocals andsamples from early 1990s hip hop.[12] These are often combined with jazz andfunk samples.[1] Thechopped and screwed technique is mainly used, in order to create a darker sound.[1]
A peculiarity of phonk is the fact that it is not anchored to a regional "scene":[1][12] it is tied toSoundCloud itself as an online platform, which highlights subgenres derived fromhip hop andexperimental pop.[2][17] Most phonk producers work independently from home.[18] Notable artists associated with "new-age phonk" include DJ Smokey,[19]DJ Yung Vamp,[20] Soudiere,[21] and Mythic.[2][7]
Drift phonk, or phonk house, is a subgenre of phonk that emerged in the late-2010s inRussia.[22][23] It is characterized by the use of highbass, TR-808cowbells, and distorted sounds,[13] making the lyrics of the samples often unrecognizable.[23] Drift phonk tracks tend to have a greatertempo than normal phonk tracks.[5] Drift phonk music is often used in videos pertaining to the topics ofweight lifting,drifting,association football,[24]anime,fighting sports, andstreet racing cars.[23][25][5][26] Drift phonk songs are typically short, energetic, and have thus found popularity through internet culture.[18] The genre quickly gained traction through the appTikTok in 2020.[23][25] Most of the prominent drift phonk producers come fromRussia,Ukraine,Belarus, and other countries inEastern Europe.[23][25]
As drift phonk became popular onTikTok, it surpassed the original genre in popularity; this, in turn, gave the word "phonk" a stronger association with the drift phonk subgenre.[27] Following the rise in popularity of the genre in Russia,[28]Spotify released its official curated phonk playlist in May 2021,[29] which was almost exclusively composed of drift phonk tracks.[27] One of the first songs in this genre is called "Scary Garry", released in 2016 by Kaito Shoma.[22]Mick Kenney, best known for his singleMurder in My Mind under stage name Kordhell, is recognized as the first phonk producer to break into Spotify's top 500 most popular artists.[30] Other notable figures include Ivan Belozerov from Russia, known as Interworld, for hisMetamorphosis single,[31] and Tahar Bendjedi from Algeria, known as DXRK, for hisRave single.[32]
Rare phonk, or cloud phonk,[33] is a subgenre of phonk pioneered by artists such asDJ Yung Vamp, Soudiere and DJ Smokey in the 2010s.[34] It primarily features drum programming and rhythms derived from styles of 2010s Trap music, which it frequently blends with the aforementioned percussion sounds and vocal samples of Memphis rap.[35]
Phonk is often confused with funk automotivo, a subgenre ofBrazilian funk, incorrectly known as "Brazilian phonk" outside of Brazil. The genre gained the nickname "Brazilian phonk" following its popularization and success on social media.[36] Popular in Brazil, it combines phonk with local cultural elements.[18]
