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Steve Aoki | |
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.jpg) Aoki in 2019 | |
| Background information | |
| Birth name | Steven Hiroyuki Aoki |
| Born | (1977-11-30)November 30, 1977 (age 47) Miami,Florida, U.S. |
| Origin | Newport Beach, California, U.S. |
| Genres | |
| Occupations |
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| Instruments |
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| Years active | 1996–present |
| Labels | |
| Spouse | |
| Website | steveaoki |
| Signature | |
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Steven Hiroyuki Aoki (/eɪˈoʊki/ay-OH-kee,Japanese:[çiɾoꜜjɯkiaoki]; born November 30, 1977) is an American DJ and record producer. In 2012,Pollstar designated Aoki as the highest-grossingelectronic dance music artist in North America from tours.[5][6] In 2024, Gold House recognized him as one of the Most Impactful Asians.[7]
He has collaborated with artists such aswill.i.am,Alan Walker,Afrojack,LMFAO,Tini,Linkin Park,AGNEZ MO,Iggy Azalea,Grandson,Lil Jon,Blink-182,Taking Back Sunday,Laidback Luke,BTS,Monsta X,(G)I-dle,Louis Tomlinson,Backstreet Boys,Rise Against,Vini Vici,Lauren Jauregui, andFall Out Boy and is known for his remixes of artists such asKid Cudi.
Aoki has released seven studio albums to date, including severalBillboard-charting albums. His debut studio albumWonderland was nominated forGrammy Award for Best Dance/Electronica Album in 2013.
In 2019, Aoki published a memoir,Blue: The Color of Noise.[8][9]
He is the founder of the Steve Aoki Charitable Fund, which raises money for global humanitarian relief organizations.[10]
Aoki was born inMiami,Florida, but grew up inNewport Beach, California. He is ofJapanese descent, the third child ofRocky Aoki and Chizuru Kobayashi.[11] His father was a formerwrestler who also founded the restaurant chainBenihana. His elder siblings are sister Kana Grace and brother Kevin (owner of Doraku Sushi restaurant).[12] They have three half-siblings, including model and actressDevon Aoki.[13][14]
Aoki graduated fromNewport Harbor High School in 1995, where he was a player on the varsity badminton team.[15] He later attended theUniversity of California, Santa Barbara, graduating with twoB.A. degrees: one in women's studies and the other in sociology.
During college, Aoki produced DIY records and ran underground concerts out of hisBiko room in the Santa Barbara Student Housing Cooperative,[16] which was located inIsla Vista, a section of residential land adjacent to UCSB. As a concert venue, the apartment became known asThe Pickle Patch.[17][18] Aoki was also involved in student activism at UCSB, being the founder of aRevolutionary Anti-Imperialist League chapter on campus.[19]
By his early 20s, Aoki had built his own record label, which he named Dim Mak – a reference to his childhood hero,Bruce Lee.[20][21][22]
Aoki founded his label,Dim Mak Records, in 1996. The label has released music by other electro house artists such asMSTRKRFT,The Bloody Beetroots,Felix Cartal, and Mustard Pimp, as well asBloc Party,The Rakes,The Kills,Klaxons,Infected Mushroom,Scanners,Whitey, andMystery Jets.[23] Aoki teamed up with Blake Miller of the Los Angeles–based bandMoving Units to produce remixes. The duo of Miller and Aoki work under the monikerWeird Science. Aoki has also been in numerous bands, including This Machine Kills, which released an album on Ebullition Records, Esperanza, and The Fire Next Time.
In May 2006, Aoki became a board member for MC5 bassistMichael Davis' Music Is Revolution Foundation,[24] a non-profit organization that provides music education support within public schools.[25] Aoki's debut DJ mix album,Pillowface and His Airplane Chronicles was released in January 2008.[26] He had anEssential Mix that aired onBBC Radio 1 on August 2, 2008,[27] and again on October 27, 2012.[28] Aoki has collaborated with fellow producers and thus far[when?] has released singles withThe Bloody Beetroots,Armand Van Helden ofDuck Sauce,Afrojack,Laidback Luke, Tai,Chris Lake,Angger Dimas,Sidney Samson, andTiësto. In his interviews, Twitter feed or from his YouTube channel he has shown teasers or has discussed doing future[when?] collaborations withDiplo,Knife Party,Datsik,Chris Lake, and more.[citation needed]
In the 1990s and 2000s, some of Aoki's remix work included artists such as:The Jackson 5,Drake,Kanye West,Eminem,Lil Wayne,Mike Posner,Girls Generation,All American Rejects,Refused,The Killers,Bassnectar,Lenny Kravitz,Bloc Party,Snoop Dogg,Robin Thicke,S.P.A.,Kid Cudi, Fërnando Oviedo,Chester French,BTS andPeaches. He remixed the track "The Wind Blows" that features on the UK edition ofThe All-American Rejects' 2008 albumWhen The World Comes Down.[citation needed] On November 10, 2009, he released a remix for Drake's song "Forever". The song featuresDrake,Kanye West,Lil Wayne, andEminem. The track topped Hype Machine's chart in December 2009.[29]
Through relentless touring, he gained huge support from colleges. He is widely known for his acrobatic crowd surfing stunts, throwing cake at fans,[30] spraying champagne bottles, and riding rafts on the dance floor.[citation needed] Performing an average of 250 shows a year, he started touring with production via bus tours, like the spring 2012 Deadmeat Tour, when he headlined more than 55 cities in 60 dates across the United States and Canada. Many of the artists Aoki collaborates with make appearances on tour with him.[31] He has played lesser-traveled regions – in 2009 he played a show inBeijing, China, withDiplo organized by promotersSplit Works.[32] In July 2012, Aoki was added to the Pollstar Top 100 North American Tours in their 2012 Mid-Year Report.[6] The list designated Aoki as the highest grossing dance artist in North America for the first half of the year.[5]
| External videos | |
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 Steve Aoki LIVE at Ultra Music Festival 2013 Weekend 1: Main Stage | |
| Steve Aoki & Laidback Luke ft. Lil Jon - Turbulence |
In March 2010, Aoki released "I'm in the House", a collaboration withZuper Blahq—the alter-ego ofThe Black Eyed Peas singerwill.i.am.[33] The song charted at No. 29 in theUK Singles Chart in its first week of release, and later entered theUK Dance Chart and theUK Indie Chart, peaking within the top five in each chart. The song was featured on an Episode ofMTV'sJersey Shore, as well as in the feature filmPiranha 3D and the trailer forThink Like a Man.[citation needed] Producer-songwriterLucas Secon confirmed in a May 2010 interview withHitQuarters that he andRivers Cuomo had recently worked with Aoki on a single.[34]
Aoki's first solo album,Wonderland, was released January 2012 and features guest vocalists and musiciansLMFAO,Kid Cudi,Kay,Travis Barker,will.i.am a.k.a.Zuper Blahq,Wynter Gordon,Rivers Cuomo,Lil Jon,Chiddy Bang,Lovefoxxx ofCSS,Big John Duncan (former guitarist of the punk bandThe Exploited), and others. A remix album was released shortly after.
There was overcrowding during Aoki's set in the Halloween electronic music festival Thriller Music Park atMadrid Arena, Madrid, Spain. As an extension, there was a stampede, which resulted in three young womencrushing to death (two died weeks later), and a further 29 people were injured.[35] Aoki released message showing his devastation and that had he known what was happening, he would have stopped the show. He canceled his next show inBilbao, Spain, out of respect for those who died as a result of the tragedy.[36]
On December 11, 2012, Aoki released his first extended play,It's the End of the World As We Know It, which includes three songs.[37] Aoki was nominated forGrammy Award for Best Dance/Electronica Album forWonderland at the 201355th Annual Grammy Awards.[38]
On October 11, 2013, Aoki collaborated withLinkin Park on the song "A Light That Never Comes"[39][40] that was included on the remix album,Recharged, 18 days later.[41] Several remixes of the song were added on the January 2014 digital download EPA Light That Never Comes (Remixes).[42] "A Light That Never Comes" was used in films such asThe Expendables 3. Aoki finished in 6th place in the 2013 America's Best DJ competition-a vote and promotion to find out the country's most popular DJ conducted byDJ Times magazine andPioneer DJ.[43]
From 2011 to 2014, he had several other tracks included in television shows, commercials, and films. This included "I'm In the House", used in the music festival documentaryElectric Daisy Carnival in 2011, which in 2014 was used in a trailer for the comedyThink Like A Man Too as well. In 2012, his track "Beat Down", featuring Australian rapperIggy Azalea, was used in a promo for the reality showBad Girls All-Star Battle. From 2013 to 2014 his track "Boneless" was used in many commercials, with companies includingScion,Budweiser, andSol Republic. His track "Get Me Outta Here" was used in aScion commercial in 2014 as well, while "Free the Madness" was used in a 2014Bud Light commercial. His track "Flight" in 2014 was used in a commercial for Sol Republic. Aoki's song "Back to Earth", featuringFall Out Boy, was used in the 2014 filmStep Up: All In, while his collaborative single "Freak" withDiplo andDeorro, featuringSteve Bays, was used in the 2014 film22 Jump Street.
The first part of Aoki's two-part album,Neon Future I, was released on September 30, 2014,[44] and reached No. 1 onDance/Electronic Albums in the United States.[45] The second album,Neon Future II, features artists such asSnoop Lion andRivers Cuomo.[46] In the United States it peaked at No. 32 on theBillboard 200,[47] No. 1 onDance/Electronic Albums,[45] and No. 4 on theIndependent Albums chart.[48] In Belgium, it reached No. 68 on theUltratop 200 Albums chart.[49]
In May 2015, it was announced thatRelativity Productions had acquired the rights to distribute the documentaryI'll Sleep When I'm Dead in the United States. Filmed during the making of hisNeon Future double album, the film is focused on Aoki and delves into his family history, lifestyle, music, and business.[46] It is co-produced by Matthew Weaver andDavid Gelb, who together had previously worked on the 2011 documentaryJiro Dreams Of Sushi.[46] Among the executive producers areRyan Kavanaugh andTucker Tooley.[46]
As with the first in the series, Aoki released promo singles leading up to the release ofNeon Future II. The second of those singles, "Darker Than Blood", came out on April 14, 2015, and features vocals from Linkin Park.[50] According to Aoki, the song had been a work in progress since 2012.Mike Shinoda rewrote Aoki's original lyrics to make them darker, because Shinoda thought Aoki's original lyrics were "too happy".[51]Neon Future II was released on May 12, 2015, through Dim Mak.[52] Among other artists, the secondNeon Future featuredSnoop Lion andRivers Cuomo.[46] It peaked at No. 2 on the US Dance/Electronic Albums chart,[45] among other placements in the United States.[48] In Belgium it reached No. 93 on the Ultratop 200 Albums chart.[49]
The 2015 science fiction thriller filmThe Hive features tracks from the albumNeon Future by Aoki,'[53] who created the soundtrack[54] and also served as an executive producer.[53][54] Aoki is also the central character in the documentaryI'll Sleep When I'm Dead.[46]
Aoki's fourth studio album,Steve Aoki Presents Kolony, was released on July 21, 2017. It features the songs "Night Call" featuringMigos andLil Yachty, "Lit" withGucci Mane, "Been Balling" withLil Uzi Vert and the lead single "Without You" withDVBBS featuring2 Chainz which was released in April and debuted at Aoki'sUltra Music Festival 2017 set in Miami.[55][56] After the death of Linkin Park lead singerChester Bennington in July 2017, Aoki released two tribute singles: "Darker Than the Light That Never Bleeds," a mashup of "A Light That Never Comes" and "Darker Than Blood", and a remix of the group's single "One More Light", dubbed the "Chester Forever" remix.[57][58] In November 2017, it was confirmed that Aoki would be producing a remix ofBTS's song "Mic Drop" featuring rapperDesiigner, which was released on November 24.[59] That day, Aoki also released a collaboration withFifth Harmony'sLauren Jauregui, titled "All Night".[60]
In February 2018, Aoki announced the release of his five-track EP titled5OKI, the follow-up to his 2016 EP4OKI. The EP would feature him collaborating with other producers to produce a "cross-genre" track collective.[61] "I'm really putting an emphasis on EDM and I'm putting an emphasis on cross-genre collaboration. For EDM itself I'm making a big statement of re-claiming it as something [that's] really important to me – kinda like giving back to my community,"[61] stated Aoki before the EP's release. The tracks were released at a weekly interval over five weeks from March 23 to April 20, with "Mayhem" featuringQuintino releasing on March 23, 2018,[62] followed by "Pika Pika" with Loopers,[63] "It's Time" withLaidback Luke,[64] "Anthem" withHardwell,[65] and concluding with "Moshi Moshi" with Vini Vici.[66]
On May 18, 2018, Aoki released the single "Pretender" featuringAJR and rapperLil Yachty.[67] In June 2018, Aoki remixedRita Ora's hit single "Girls" featuring CharliXCX,Bebe Rexha andCardi B.[68] Later that month, alongside ItalianDJ Marnik, they released their version of "Bella Ciao", which garnered controversy. Many deemed the new dance music version of the track inappropriate and insulting.[69] On July 20, 2018, Aoki released the single "Lie to Me" featuring singer-songwriterIna Wroldsen.
In an interview on August 6, 2018, he announced the release of his new albumNeon Future III. It included collaborations with Ira Wroldsen,Nicki Minaj,Maluma,Blink-182, andBTS.[70][71]On October 25, 2018, Aoki released "Waste It on Me" which features BTS members,RM,Jimin (with backup vocals), andJungkook.[72] The single, which was also included on Aoki's album,Neon Future III, marked Aoki and BTS' third collaboration as well as BTS' first all-English single.Neon Future III was released on October 9, 2018. In an interview with EDM.com, Aoki announced that his next album,Neon Future IV, would be released in 2019;[73] it was later released in April 2020.[74]
On September 9, 2019, Aoki released "Let It Be Me", a collaboration withBackstreet Boys, which came about after Aoki metNick Carter at his Vegas show.[75]
On June 24, 2020, he co-released "Ninja Re Bang Bang Steve Aoki Remix" with Japanese artistKyary Pamyu Pamyu. This is a remix of Kyary's2013 hit song of the same name. The song is a theme song for the free-to-play video gameNinjala, released the same day.[76]
On August 21, 2020, Aoki remixed several songs by theanarcho-punk bandCrass under a 12" single "normal never was III" with all purchases going towards domestic abuse charity "refuge".[77]
Aoki released several non-album singles in early 2022, including "Welcome to the Playhouse" (featuring vocals byShaquille O'Neal) on January 7, and "Da Homies" on February 4. He then began to release singles which later appeared on his upcoming seventh studio album,Hiroquest: Genesis. These included "Kult" (withGrandson featuringJasiah), "Ultimate" (featuring Santa Fe Klan andSnow Tha Product), and "The Whistle" (featuringTimmy Trumpet andDJ Aligator).
On September 16, 2022, Aoki released his seventh studio album,Hiroquest: Genesis. The album features many notable collaborators includingMod Sun,PnB Rock,Taking Back Sunday,Lil Xan,Bryce Vine, and many more.
On 12 January 2023, Argentine singerTini released "Muñecas", a collaboration featuring Aoki and singer La Joaqui, as the ninth single from her fourth studio albumCupido.[78]
On August 18, 2023, Aoki announced his upcoming eighth studio album, a sequel to 2022'sHiroquest: Genesis, calledHiroquest 2: Double Helix. The album was released on November 17, 2023, and featuredParis Hilton,Akon,Angela Aguilar,Danna Paola,Greeicy,Galantis,JJ Lin,Hayley Kiyoko,Timmy Trumpet, andJohn Martin, among others.[79]
A remix ofLocked up (originally by Akon) bySteve Aoki,Trinix , Akon was released in August 2023.[80]
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Aoki has appeared in the media, notably in video games, television, and music videos. His interest in gaming led him to co-owning the esports companyRogue.[81] He was featured in the video gamesNBA 2K8 andNBA 2K9 as a special celebrity player, even though he admits to being terrible at basketball. He makes cameos in the videos forCobra Starship's 2007 single "Send My Love to the Dancefloor, I'll See You in Hell (Hey Mister DJ)" andThe Sounds' single "Tony the Beat". Aoki made a cameo appearance in rapperKid Cudi's video "Just What I Am".[82] On July 1, 2016, it was announced that Aoki would make an appearance as both a musical contributor and non-playable character in the video gameDragon Ball Xenoverse 2.[83]
In January 2012, Aoki released new tracks onTurntable.fm in conjunction withSOL REPUBLIC Headphones,[84] making him the first established artist to orchestrate a listening session using the platform fully.[85] Aoki appeared in an episode ofThe CW's superhero seriesArrow that was first aired on March 20, 2013. He played himself, spinning at the grand opening ofOliver Queen's fictional nightclub.[86] He also appeared in an anti-fur ad forPETA, an organization he says he's supported since he was 14 years old.[87] Aoki appeared onNever Mind the Buzzcocks in December 2014.[88] He currently resides inHenderson, Nevada.[89]
On May 8, 2020, he performed in the Fortnite Party Royale Premiere withDillon Francis andDeadmau5.[90]
The Aoki Foundation helps fund research on the brain with a focus on regenerative medicine and brain preservation.[91][92] The fund emphasizes the possibilities of naturallife extension that come with the elimination of brain disease.[91] The Foundation supports other causes such as disaster relief, research on developmental disabilities, and animal rights.[91][93][94] It has partnered with Keep Memory Alive,SENS Research Foundation, theBuck Institute for Research on Aging,Music for Relief, andBest Buddies International.[91]
In 2013, during his North American tour, Aoki donated a dollar of every ticket sale to four charities: theBrain Preservation Foundation, theUniversity of Rochester Medical Center – Memory Care Program, the American Brain Foundation, and Infusio.[95][96][97] Aoki fans were invited to vote for their favorite charity, with the Brain Preservation taking the grand prize.[95] A total of $65,000 was donated,[95][96] with $33,000 going to the Brain Preservation Foundation.[98]
Aoki and Australian model Tiernan Cowling were engaged in 2010. They later married on the Hawaiian island of Maui in 2015 and resided in Las Vegas, Nevada.[99] The couple amicably split in 2018, citing Aoki's rigorous tour schedule putting a strain on the relationship.[100] In July 2024, Aoki married Sasha Sofine inMontenegro.[101] The couple announced in January 2025 they were due to have a baby and did a gender reveal with Aoki's signature cake.[101]
Actress and fashion modelDevon Aoki is Steve Aoki's half-sister. Model and singer-songwriterYumi Nu is Aoki's niece.[102]
After applying in 2022, Aoki was selected to participate in a lunar spaceflight as part of thedearMoon project crew.[103][104] The mission was slated to occur in the 2023 aboard aSpaceX Starship. Following delays with the Starship program, the dearMoon project was canceled in 2024.[105]
Aoki is signed up forcryopreservation, discussing plans withPeter Diamandis in a 2022 interviewA DJ's Crazy Schedule, Cryonics, and the Making of Pursuit of Happiness.[106]
According to accounting documents viewed by Business Insider, Aoki, among several other musicians, was found to have allegedly misused funds from the Shuttered Venue Operators Grant (SVOG), aCOVID-19 relief fund "for struggling independent venues and arts groups during the pandemic." Aoki's loan-out company, DJ Kid Millionaire Touring, is alleged to have used $2.4 million in grant money on payroll costs, of which $1.9 million was officer pay. Aoki is the company's only officer.[107]
Aoki has won or been nominated for various industry awards in annual competitions and magazine rankings. In 2007, he was named Best Party Rocker DJ byBPM Magazine, Best DJ of the Year byPaper Magazine, and Best Set of the Season at theIbiza Awards. In 2012, he was named No. 15 in the Top 100 DJs inDJ Magazine and America's #2 Best DJ. Also in 2012, he won an EDM EffectWoodie Award byMTVu, and the following year he was nominated for his firstGrammy.[108]
Aoki finished 6th place in the 2013 America's Best DJ competition conducted byDJ Times magazine,[43] and finished 8th place in 2013 and 2016. He finished 10th in 2014, 2015, and 2017 inDJ Mag's Top 100 DJs competition. In 2014, Aoki received twoGuinness World Records, one for the "longest crowd cheer", and also for the "most amount of glow sticks for thirty seconds."[109] Aoki performed at the 2015 Ultra Music Festival in Miami Beach on May 21.[110] He also earned the Guinness record for "most traveled musician in one year", with 161 shows in 41 countries in 2014.[111]
Aoki has been involved with various charities. EDM.com named him No. 1 on their list of the 11 most charitable EDM producers.[112] He founded the Steve Aoki Charitable Fund, which raises money for global humanitarian relief organizations and medical research. Among the organization's fundraising methods are Aoki's touring events, "memorabilia auctions", and collaborations with other artists.[10] In early 2015 he was named a Global Ambassador for theBest Buddies program, a non-profit devoted to young people with developmental and intellectual disabilities.[113] Around that time,MTV Latin America gave Aoki the Chiuku Award for humanitarian work at theInternational Dance Music Awards.[114]
| Year | Award | Nominated work | Category | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 | DJ Awards[115] | Steve Aoki | Ibiza Set | Won |
| 2008 | Billboard Awards[116] | Pillowface and His Airplane Chronicles | Best Mix Album of the Year | Won |
| 2012 | World Music Awards[117] | Steve Aoki | World's Best EDM Artist | Nominated |
| 2013 | Grammy Awards[38] | Wonderland | Best Dance/Electronica Album | Nominated |
| 2015 | MTV Latin America[117] | Steve Aoki | Chiuku Award | Won |
| Year | Position | Notes | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | 42 | New Entry | [118][119] |
| 2012 | 15 | Up 27 | |
| 2013 | 8 | Up 7 | |
| 2014 | 10 | Down 2 | |
| 2015 | 10 | No Change | |
| 2016 | 7 | Up 3 | |
| 2017 | 9 | Down 2 | |
| 2018 | 11 | Down 2 | |
| 2019 | 10 | Up 1 | |
| 2020 | 9 | Up 1 | |
| 2021 | 10 | Down 1 | |
| 2022 | 7 | Up 3 | |
| 2023 | 8 | Down 1 | |
| 2024 | 12 | Down 4 |
| Year | Release title | Type | Role |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | Punk'd – "David Boreanaz, Kristin Cavallari & Terrell Owens" | Television episode | Himself |
| 2012 | Chasing with Steve Aoki– 7 episodes | Television episodes | Himself |
| 2013 | Arrow – "The Huntress Returns" | Television episode | Himself (fictionalized version) |
| 2014 | The Distortion of Sound | Documentary | Himself |
| 2015 | I'll Sleep When I'm Dead | Feature documentary | Main subject[46] |
| The Hive | Feature horror film | Executive producer,[53] soundtrack creator[54] | |
| Robot Chicken – "Zeb and Kevin Erotic Hot Tub Canvas" | Television episode | Himself (voice)[120] | |
| Point Break | Action film | Himself (cameo) | |
| 2016 | Hell's Kitchen – "6 Chefs Compete" | Television episode | Himself (dining room guest) |
| Why Him? | Feature film | Himself | |
| 2017 | Charming | Animated film | Matilija DJ (voice) |
| Bill Nye Saves the World | Talk show | Himself | |
| 2018 | The Sidemen Show | Web series | Himself |
| 2022 | Senior Year | Feature film | Himself |
| 2023 | Pawn Stars | Television episode | Himself (guest appearance) |
