Skate Punk (aka Skatepunk, Skate-punk, Sk8 Punk, Skate-thrash, or Skate-core) was originally a derivative of hardcore punk, so named because of its popularity among skateboarders.

In the 1980s, music by hardcore punk bands such as Black Flag and the Circle Jerks was very popular to skateboard to. Some of the bands, like JFA, were also skateboarders and, like the Big Boys, even developed their own line of skateboards. These bands were regularly covered in Thrasher , a skateboarding magazine that also helped develop the skate punk scene. Thrasher released many skate videos, featuring the music of these bands on the soundtrack. Eventually skateboarders began forming their own bands whose musical style was similar to hardcore, but faster and more catchy, and usually incorporating a smart-ass sense of humor.

The legendary 80's skateboarder Duane Peters grew into skatepunk via skateboarding, forming two skatepunk bands: US Bombs , and later The Huns .

Some bands in other genres have been called Skatepunk for promoting skating in their songs and music videos, such as notorious Hardcore thrash Suicidal Tendencies, the more pop-punk The Offspring, Sum 41 & blink-182 and most recently, bands like NOFX, Rancid and Pennywise.