HOW TO CREATE PHONK MUSIC
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.
1. Understand the Key Elements of Phonk Music
Phonk is often characterized by:
- Lo-fi and vintage sound (e.g., 90s Memphis rap influences)
- Chopped and screwed effects (slowed-down, pitch-shifted audio)
- Dark, atmospheric beats with heavy use of 808s
- Distorted or heavily processed vocals
- Soul, jazz, or funk samples, often from old records
- Haunting melodies with minor chords or eerie vibes
2. Select Your Digital Audio Workstation (DAW)
You’ll need a DAW to start producing music. Popular DAWs include:
- FL Studio (widely used by hip-hop producers for its ease of use and strong beat-making tools)
- Ableton Live (great for live performance and electronic music production)
- Logic Pro X (good for overall production, especially if you work with MIDI and virtual instruments)
- GarageBand (a good starting point for beginners)
- Reason or Cubase (if you prefer a different workflow)
For phonk, FL Studio is especially popular due to its user-friendly interface and strong support for sampling.
3. Choose Your Tempo and Key
- Tempo: Phonk music typically ranges from 60 to 100 BPM. Slower tempos are common, especially in the Memphis phonk style (often around 75 BPM).
- Key: The mood of phonk is often darker and melancholic, so minor keys are ideal. Experiment with keys like A minor, E minor, or C minor for that moody vibe.
4. Start With a Sample (Optional)
One of the most distinctive features of phonk music is the heavy use of samples, often taken from:
- 90s Memphis rap (Tommy Wright III, DJ Smokey, and Three 6 Mafia)
- Soul, funk, and jazz records
- Old movie dialogues or vintage recordings (many phonk tracks use iconic movie lines or vintage audio snippets)
How to use samples:
- Find a sample: Websites like Tracklib, Splice, and FreeSound can help you find high-quality samples. If you’re looking for classic Memphis-style samples, try digging through YouTube or sample packs specifically made for phonk production.
- Chop & Flip: To make it your own, chop up the sample. Slice the audio, rearrange sections, or pitch it down to create a unique vibe.
Important Tip: Make sure you have the proper rights to any sample you use if you plan on releasing the track commercially.
5. Create the Drum Pattern
Phonk beats generally have a gritty, punchy feel with heavy use of 808s. Follow these tips:
- 808 Bass: Start by laying down a powerful 808 bass line, which is the foundation of most phonk tracks. The 808 should have a sub-heavy, distorted sound. Use a soft or punchy 808, depending on the style.
- Kick Drum: Make sure your kick drum is deep and heavy. Don’t be afraid to make it distorted for that gritty Memphis sound.
- Snare/Clap: Use a snare or clap that has a sharp, snap-like sound. Layering snares or claps can help thicken the rhythm section.
- Hi-Hats: Use fast, stuttering hi-hats to add rhythm. In phonk, hi-hats are often programmed with a triplet feel (three notes in the space of two beats).
- Percussion: Experiment with adding percussion like toms, rimshots, and hi-hat rolls for extra texture.
6. Add Chopped and Screwed Effects
To capture that signature phonk feel:
- Chop & Screw: One of the key characteristics of phonk is slowing down and pitch-shifting your samples. This is often done to create that "chopped and screwed" effect.
- In FL Studio, you can adjust the sample's time-stretching mode to slow it down.
- Apply pitch-shifting to make the samples sound deeper and more haunting.
- Reverb & Delay: Use heavy reverb and delay effects to create an atmospheric sound, especially on your vocals and melodic elements.
- Vinyl Distortion: To give the track that lo-fi, vintage feel, use distortion plugins like iZotope Vinyl or any vinyl emulation plugin that adds noise, crackles, or tape hiss.
7. Work on the Melodic Elements
Phonk often uses dark, moody melodies that give the track an eerie, atmospheric vibe.
- Keys & Synths: Create haunting melodies using simple keys, pads, or eerie synths. Using a synth like Serum or Massive can help you create atmospheric pads and lead lines.
- Sampling: If you don’t want to create melodies from scratch, you can take parts of the sample and loop them, pitch them down, or reverse them to create an eerie, unique melody.
8. Add Vocals (Optional)
Phonk often incorporates distorted or chopped-up vocal samples, either from old rap tracks or original recordings.
- Find Vocal Samples: You can use spoken word samples from old movies or TV shows, or even find acapellas from other songs. Make sure to use the samples creatively (chop them up, pitch-shift them, or loop them).
- Recording Vocals: If you want to add your own vocals, record them, then add distortion, reverb, and pitch-shifting to achieve the phonk vibe.
- Effects: Use heavy reverb, delay, and some distortion to make the vocals sound like they are from another era.
9. Mix and Master
- Mixing: Balance your levels. Make sure the 808 bass hits hard, but doesn't overpower the other elements like your drums and samples. Use EQ to carve space for each element, especially when it comes to the low-end.
- Mastering: Use a limiter to make sure your track isn’t too quiet when you export it, but don't squash the dynamics too much. You want the track to feel dynamic and have punch.
10. Experiment and Find Your Unique Style
Phonk is all about experimentation. Don’t be afraid to experiment with:
- Breaking the usual beat patterns: While most phonk tracks have a similar rhythm, try to mix it up by adding unusual percussive elements or varying the patterns.
- Adding unconventional sounds: Phonk allows room for creativity, so feel free to use samples from outside the genre or include field recordings to make your track stand out.
Recommended Tools & Plugins:
- FL Studio or Ableton Live for DAW
- Serum or Massive for synth sounds
- iZotope Vinyl or RC-20 for lo-fi effects
- Omnisphere for atmospheric pads and melodies
- Sound libraries: Look for "Phonk" or "Memphis Rap" sample packs to get authentic sounds.
Final Thoughts:
Phonk music is about experimenting with a mix of lo-fi elements, atmospheric sounds, and dark, gritty beats. Whether you start with samples or create everything from scratch, the key is to embrace the underground nature of the genre. Be sure to listen to a variety of phonk artists for inspiration, and don’t be afraid to put your own twist on it!
