HOW MANY STYLES OF PHONK MUSIC & THEIR POPULAR ARTIST
Phonk music is a genre that has evolved over time, and while it isn't as rigidly defined as some other genres, there are several distinct styles or subgenres within it. The diversity of phonk can often come from the blending of different influences, primarily from hip hop, Memphis rap, and elements of lo-fi and cloud rap. Here are some common styles or subgenres within phonk:
1. Traditional Memphis Phonk
- Influences: Rooted in the 1990s Memphis rap scene, this style is characterized by heavy use of dark, atmospheric, and often eerie samples, combined with slowed-down and distorted beats.
- Key Elements: Lo-fi production, haunting vocal samples (often from old soul, funk, or jazz), and gritty, underground vibes.
- Artists: DJ Smokey, Tommy Wright III, and the late DJ Screw influenced this style.
2. Lo-Fi Phonk
- Influences: A more atmospheric, melancholic take on phonk, often leaning into the lo-fi sound associated with chillwave and cloud rap.
- Key Elements: Smooth, relaxed beats, soft vocal chops, ambient textures, and sometimes jazz or classical influences. The sound is often hazy and nostalgic.
- Artists: $uicideboy$, Night Lovell (to an extent), and Bones (sometimes) can produce tracks that lean into this style.
3. Hard Phonk / Trap Phonk
- Influences: A more aggressive, modern version of phonk that incorporates elements of trap music, such as booming bass and faster tempos.
- Key Elements: Hard-hitting 808s, crisp hi-hats, and aggressive vocal deliveries. There may also be more emphasis on a heavier, club-friendly production style.
- Artists: Ghostemane, XXXTentacion (in his darker moments), and some of the works of Chris Travis.
4. Vaporwave-Inspired Phonk
- Influences: Combining phonk's dark, atmospheric elements with vaporwave’s retro-futuristic aesthetic, often creating a nostalgic vibe through the use of 80s and 90s samples.
- Key Elements: Slow tempos, heavy use of samples from old video games, anime, and corporate/advertising music from the 80s and 90s. It often has a glitchy or chopped-up sound.
- Artists: Some phonk producers experiment with this fusion, but it is a niche within the broader phonk scene.
5. Dark Phonk
- Influences: This style leans heavily into the darker, more sinister side of phonk, with themes of horror, nihilism, and death. It's more intense and unsettling in nature.
- Key Elements: Deep, ominous beats, minor key melodies, eerie sound effects, and distorted, almost haunting vocals. Themes often explore pain, isolation, or violence.
- Artists: $uicideboy$, Night Lovell, and some of the darker works by Lil Peep and Bones.
6. Chopped and Screwed Phonk
- Influences: This style draws heavily from the "chopped and screwed" movement pioneered by DJ Screw, where songs are slowed down and manipulated with stuttering effects.
- Key Elements: Slow, syrupy beats, heavily distorted vocals, and a dreamy, hypnotic effect. The pacing is often slow and drawn out.
- Artists: DJ Smokey, DJ Screw, and many of the original Memphis rap influences have contributed to this sound.
7. Phonk with R&B/Soul Elements
- Influences: This style incorporates smooth R&B or soul samples, often giving the phonk tracks a laid-back, emotive vibe.
- Key Elements: Soulful vocal samples, smooth chord progressions, and melodic elements mixed with the usual hard-hitting phonk drums and 808s.
- Artists: Some of Bones' more melodic work fits into this category, as well as $uicideboy$'s tracks that have R&B or soul elements.
8. Futuristic Phonk
- Influences: A more experimental take, blending elements of phonk with futuristic or spacey sounds, sometimes incorporating electronic, synthwave, or industrial elements.
- Key Elements: Atmospheric soundscapes, use of synthesizers, and futuristic sound design, often paired with traditional phonk percussion and darker melodies.
- Artists: Producers like Bones (in his more experimental phases) and Lil Peep's darker beats.
Conclusion:
While phonk music is primarily known for its lo-fi, atmospheric, and darker vibe, it has branched into several distinct subgenres over the years, often influenced by other styles like trap, lo-fi, vaporwave, and even soul. These subgenres often overlap, and many phonk artists experiment with blending different influences, making the genre quite diverse within its own right.
