Air horns have long been used at sporting events and parties to grab attention, and DJs adopted the loud blast as a way to hype a crowd and mark a drop. Online, the sound became a staple of MLG-style edits and meme videos in the 2010s, where a single blast could turn a clip into a joke or a celebration. It remains popular because it is instantly recognizable, works without any words, and adds energy to almost any short-form video.