What is phonk music?
You might not know the term phonk or phonk music (you pronounce it like funk), but you’re likely to have heard it if you’ve been anywhere near TikTok or YouTube. It started as a niche sub-genre of hip hop and has grown into a full-blown genre with sub-genres of its own.
Beginnings in Memphis
Phonk music is a sub-genre of hip hop that evolved in Memphis in the late 80s and early 1990s. Back then, Memphis hip hop artists were producing sounds with powerful basslines, a slow tempo, and overlaid with lots of samples from old soul, funk, and R&B tracks which were slowed down and manipulated. This early type of phonk feels quite similar to gangsta rap.
Much of it was created in small batches and on cassette tapes, which made phonk music deeply atmospheric with a distinctly lo-fi feel to it. It also means these early recordings are very rare.
Making noise on social media
Phonk’s popularity has grown through its use on YouTube and TikTok, exposing it to a far wider audience than the cassette tapes of the early 90s. Like all music, phonk has evolved and this social media savvy sound went more mainstream in the 2010s. It became a little lighter, using contemporary vocals and even jazz elements.
Evolution to drift phonk
Drift phonk has moved away from the original phonk sound, forming a sub-genre of phonk that is probably more popular than its originator. It came from the street racing, weightlifting, and drifting worlds, which makes it higher intensity and faster tempo than the original phonk genre. It often incorporates 808 cowbells and sounds more similar to electronic dance music than to hip hop.
Other phonk sub-genres
As well as phonk and drift phonk, you might also hear:
- Brazilian phonk: phonk mixed with Brazilian funk
- Phonk house: phonk with house grooves
- Drill phonk: minimalist phonk beats mixed with drill
The Artlist phonk collection
If you’d like to incorporate phonk music into your videos, Artlist has a collection dedicated to the genre. Here are some of our favorite songs from the Artlist phonk collection.
1. Keep Me Thrilled, by sero
If you’re looking for a track with a strong beat and appealing repetition, symbolic of putting in the hard yards in the gym, take a listen to Keep Me Thrilled by sero.
2. Scared Inside, by Flint
The high pitched introduction gives this track an unusual entry point for something so mysterious and potentially sinister. Imagine it being used for people exploring an abandoned building or a locked floor of an old property.
3. Bonker Balls, by BXRDVJA
This is an up-tempo track that could easily transport your audience to a party with vibes. It’s positive with playful overlays.
4. Bubble Up – No Lead Vocals, by JZAC
There’s a technological or engineering undertone to this track that brings to mind construction and exploration.
5. Copacabana Trap, by Puda Beats
If you’re looking for a song with a slightly industrial feel that would be perfect for a timelapse video, have a listen to Copacabana Trap by Puda Beats.
6. Game Changer, by Yarin Primak and Frank Bentley
With discernible lyrics in this track, it has a more modern phonk inflection. It has a strong urban feel to it and could soundtrack a sinister meeting or dangerous exploration scene.
7. Beat It, by Leandro
Its strong beats and jarring top notes make this a song ideal for quirky fashion videos that reach an unusual crescendo.
8. 2020, by IamDayLight
The ringing bells in this track give a strong feel of marking time. Maybe it’s about repetition in the gym. Or perhaps it leans into unusual timelapses. It’s a versatile and atmospheric phonk song.
9. The Most, by BAER
If you’re looking for a song to soundtrack a gaming sequence with a slightly dark feel to it, look no further than The Most by BAER. It relays a sense of movement, of seeking or looking for something, with a slightly sinister edge to it. What might your character find? Or who might find your character?
10. Rage Depository, by ZISO
It might be called Rage Depository, but there’s nothing especially rage fuelled or rage inducing about this track from ZISO. You might even say that it has a positive or hopeful feel to it. Looking for a track that is suggestive of making preparations and taking steps forward? Try this one!
Wrapping up
If you’re looking to bring some extra energy to your video, Dive into the Artlist phonk collection to find the perfect soundtrack. From extreme sports, street racing, drifting, and weight-lifting, to fashion shoots, gaming and urban exploration, it’s great for bring an edgy, dynamic atmosphere.
Remember that you can pair it with cinematic stock video footage and authentic SFX from Artlist thanks to having everything you need to create videos in one platform. Take a listen and get inspired for your next project today.
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