wonky
what it is
Wonky is the name given to a fusion of electronic and hip hop (particularly glitch hop) which first developed in the mid-to-late 2000s. Along with those main elements it also has secondary influences such as idm and its namesake, wonky techno. It is defined by its off-kilter and unstable, wonky (hence the name) mid-range, with unquantised and offbeat hip-hop rhythms at dubstep tempos; this sound was at least partially influenced by and is often linked to ketamine use, as it reflects how the drug affects users and their ability to dance.
✦ start here: albums
✦ who's making it, level by level
level 2 · the door
big names with a sharper edge
level 3 · one step out
cult favorites and indie darlings
level 4 · further
art pop, hyperpop, and the underground
level 5 · all the way
deep experimental
✦ make wonky a playlist
turn these 28 artists into something you can press play on.
✦ nearby genres
questions
What is wonky?
Wonky is the name given to a fusion of electronic and hip hop (particularly glitch hop) which first developed in the mid-to-late 2000s. Along with those main elements it also has secondary influences such as idm and its namesake, wonky techno. It is defined by its off-kilter and unstable, wonky (hence the name) mid-range, with unquantised and offbeat hip-hop rhythms at dubstep tempos; this sound was at least partially influenced by and is often linked to ketamine use, as it reflects how the drug affects users and their ability to dance.
What are good wonky albums to start with?
Try First Light by Sleepnet, &&&&& by Arca, XXYYXX by XXYYXX, and Take Me Apart by Kelela.
Who are some women making wonky?
musicisforgirls.com/genres/wonky/girls lists women, non-binary artists, and bands with women making wonky, from mainstream to underground.
genre notes from last.fm listeners · artists and albums from last.fm, updated 2026-10-20