Phonk is a hip-hop subgenre that draws from Memphis rap, chopped vocals, cowbells and distorted bass. It grew online through SoundCloud in the 2010s, then spread widely on short-form video platforms through drift edits, street racing clips and stylized gym montages. Short phonk snippets became especially popular because their hard drop and dark atmosphere fit quick visual transitions. Even when the exact track is unclear, people still search for phonk sounds as a shorthand for fast, edgy edit music.