Phonk grew out of Memphis hip-hop influences and became a staple of short-form video in the early 2020s, when its dark bass and driving drums were paired with car, gym and drift clips on TikTok and YouTube Shorts. Beats labelled by year, like this 2023 example, were shared as ready-made background tracks for creators who wanted instant energy without vocals getting in the way. That practical, edit-friendly sound is why phonk beats remain popular for montages, even as trends change.