Steve Aoki is a name that resonates with people who love electronic dance music. He is an American musician, record producer, and DJ who has been in the music industry for over two decades. Aoki is known for his high-energy performances, signature sound, and ability to connect with his audience. His success has earned him a place in the Forbes list of highest-paid DJs in the world. In this article, we will delve into Steve Aoki's career, his contributions to the music industry, and why he is one of the most celebrated DJs of all time.
Steve Aoki, an American electro house musician, record producer, DJ, and music executive, was born on November 30, 1977, in Miami, Florida. He is the third child of Chizuru Kobayashi and Rocky Aoki, the latter being a former wrestler who also founded the Benihana restaurant chain. Steve has two older siblings, Kana (sometimes referred to as Grace) and Kevin, who owns the Doraku Sushi restaurant. He also has a half-sister, the model and actress Devon Aoki.
Growing up in Newport Beach, California, Steve graduated from Newport Harbor High School in 1995, where he was a member of the varsity badminton team. He later attended UC Santa Barbara, earning two B.A. degrees, one in feminist studies and the other in sociology. During his college years, he produced do-it-yourself records and organized underground concerts in his Biko room within the Santa Barbara Student Housing Cooperative, turning it into a popular concert venue known as The Pickle Patch. He was also involved in student activism at UCSB and founded a chapter of the Revolutionary Anti-Imperialist League on campus. By his early twenties, he had established his own record label, Dim Mak, named in homage to his childhood hero, Bruce Lee.
In March 2010, Steve Aoki released "I'm in the House," a collaboration with the Zuper Blahq alter-ego of The Black Eyed Peas singer will.i.am. The song achieved No. 29 on the U.K. Singles Chart in its first week of release and later entered the U.K. Dance Chart and the U.K. Indie Chart, reaching the top 5 in both charts. It was featured in an episode of MTV's Jersey Shore, as well as in the feature film Piranha and the trailer for Think Like A Man. Producer-songwriter Lucas Secon confirmed in a May 2010 interview with HitQuarters that he and Rivers Cuomo had recently worked with Aoki on a single.
In addition to his music career, Steve Aoki has been actively involved in various charitable activities, with EDM.com naming him the top charitable EDM producer. He founded the Steve Aoki Charitable Fund, which raises money for global humanitarian relief organizations and medical research through touring events, memorabilia auctions, and collaborations with other artists. In early 2015, he was named as the Global Ambassador for the Best Buddies program, a non-profit dedicated to young people with developmental and intellectual disabilities. MTV Latin America also recognized his humanitarian work by presenting him with the Chiuku Award at the International Dance Music Awards.
