‍

People often say that music is a universal language. It is one of those things that all humans understand and enjoy, and it has an incredible ability to bring people together and create a sense of community among individuals. Sometimes, communities that are based on a shared interest or the shared enjoyment of an activity will adopt a certain genre of music which will then become an integral part of the community. This article will discuss one such example: phonk music and its association to the gym and car enthusiast communities. 

‍

Phonk music is a relatively new genre of music that was first developed in the early 2010s. It utilizes aspects of rap, hip-hop, electronic, and techno, often using samples from older songs and blending them together with new styles of music. There are a number of different subtypes of phonk, with some phonk music being very aggressive and hardcore, and some giving off more chill and laid back vibes. 

‍

Recently, phonk music has been adopted by the gym and car communities, which is primarily displayed through the presence these groups have on social media, and has become a staple that these groups use to express themselves. A significant portion of the clips on TikTok and Instagram that are produced by members of these collectives use phonk music for their audios. Car enthusiasts feature phonk in cinematic edits of their vehicles and in videos of them racing on the track, and gym goers will include phonk in motivational montages of themselves working out and showing off their gains. In addition to posting videos with phonk music in the background, many members of these groups also listen to phonk while at the gym or while driving their cars. 

‍

A big reason that these communities enjoy phonk music is that the energy given off by the songs matches very well with the activities that these groups participate in. For the gym community, the aggressive and upbeat melodies are perfect motivation for lifting heavy weights, finishing the last mile of your run, and pushing yourself to your physical limits. I personally find that listening to phonk at the gym makes me feel powerful and is very effective at assisting me in having an enjoyable and successful workout. For the car community, the fast-paced, intense phonk music corresponds with speedy driving and racing (on the racetrack hopefully). As well, the more slow, laidback phonk music is perfect for late night cruises and car meets with friends. 

‍

Many of the people in one of these groups are often associated with the other. Oftentimes, an individual who is passionate about physical fitness will also be interested in cars, or vice versa. Whether they are building a great physique or building an engine, discipline and commitment will be common traits found in both groups, so it is reasonable to say that these two groups will have some overlap in participants. This is another reason why phonk music is associated with both communities, since people involved in both communities will assist in the transfer of new types of music between the two. This is furthered by the use of social media platforms, where new trends, including music, can quickly go viral and become commonplace in specific communities that witness the trend. 

‍

In conclusion, music is a very powerful tool that can help foster the feeling of belonging, which is one of the reasons why it is important in all cultures around the world. Phonk’s association to the gym and car communities is just one of countless examples of the groups that can be formed and maintained through the shared interest of both an activity and a style of music. 

‍