Phonk
Phonk ( ) is a subgenre of hip hop that emerged in the early 2010s in the United States. The term was coined and popularized by American rapper and record producer SpaceGhostPurrp. The genre is characterized by its use of Memphis rap-inspired vocals, chopped and screwed production techniques, and samples from early 1990s hip hop, often incorporating elements from jazz and funk.
Phonk draws influence from Southern hip-hop artists such as DJ Screw, Three 6 Mafia, Tommy Wright III and DJ Spanish Fly. During the early 2010s, a number of underground artists contributed to a revival of Memphis rap aesthetics which later became associated with phonk such as SpaceGhostPurrp's collective Raider Klan members Denzel Curry, Xavier Wulf and Amber London, along with rapper Lil Ugly Mane and producer DJ Smokey.
In the late 2010s, a subgenre known as "drift phonk" emerged in Russia, characterized by faster tempos, prominent cowbell patterns, and aggressive basslines. The style gained popularity through social media platforms such as TikTok, where it became conflated with the original phonk sound. By the mid-2020s, Brazilian styles such as "funk automotivo" became synonymous with the original genre and popular online.
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