Steve Aoki

November 30, 2024

Fast Facts
Background
Career Timeline
Why We Love
Surprising Facts
FAQs

Steve Aoki was born on November 30, 1977. He is a prominent D.J., record executive, music programmer, and record producer. In 2012, “Pollstar,” a trade publication for the concert and live music industry, named Aoki the highest-grossing artist in the electronic dance music genre. Starting his career in the university dorm, he has gone on to become one of the most famous D.J.s in the world. He has also released a range of music in collaboration with several notable artists, including will.i.am, Linkin Park, Backstreet Boys, Iggy Azalea, and B.T.S. Let’s celebrate his special day together, shall we?

Fast Facts

Full Name:

Steven Hiroyuki Aoki

Birth date:

November 30, 1977

Age:

Zodiac Sign:

Sagittarius

Height:

5' 8.8"

Relationship Status:

Divorced

Net Worth:

$120 million

Background

Steven Hiroyuki Aoki was born on November 30, 1977, in Miami, Florida. He was brought up in Newport Beach, California. His mother’s name is Chizuru Kobayashi, and his father is Hiroaki Aoki, who worked as a restaurateur and wrestler. He is the youngest of three siblings and has a brother named Kevin and a sister named Kana.

Aoki pursued his early education at Newport Harbor High School. He graduated from the institution in 1995. He was then enrolled at the Santa Barbara’s University of California, where he pursued two bachelor of art degrees, one in sociology and the other in feminist studies. It was during this period that he began getting involved in music. He organized underground concerts in his room while also producing D.I.Y. records.

In 1996, when he was just 19, Aoki started his own record label, Dim Mak Records. With it, he worked with several artists in the electro house genre. He then started producing remixes, in collaboration with Blake Miller, a member of the L.A.-based band Moving Units. The two created music under the stage name Weird Science.

Thereafter, Aoki began touring around the U.S., performing in about 250 shows a year, which brought him recognition and support from fans across the world. In 2010, he released the track ‘I’m in the House,’ in collaboration with Zuper Blahq (popularly known as will.i.am). The song became a chart-burster and propelled Aoki’s career to new heights.

Career timeline

1990s

His Early Beginnings

Steve Aoki sets up his record label, producing and releasing music by electro-house artists.

2010

He Gains Widespread Fame

Aoki gains widespread popularity by embarking on country-wide tours and releasing chart-bursting singles.

2012

His First Solo Album Drops

“Wonderland,” Aoki’s debut solo album, is released.

2013

His First Collab with Linkin Park

Aoki lands his first of many collaborations with the American band Linkin Park, on the track ‘A Light That Never Comes.’

2016

“I’ll Sleep When I’m Dead”

“I’ll Sleep When I’m Dead,” a documentary about Aoki’s life, debuts at the Tribeca Film Festival.

Why We Love Steve Aoki

His many accomplishments
Throughout his career, Steve Aoki has received several awards for his work. He is a proud recipient of D.J. Awards, M.T.V. Latin America, and Billboard Awards. Furthermore, he has been nominated for the World Music Awards and the Grammy Awards.
He gives back to society
Aoki is the founder of a charity, the Steve Aoki Charitable Fund. The organization raises money for medical research and international humanitarian relief. In 2015, the artist became the global ambassador of a non-profit called Best Buddies, which aims to train young people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
His body of work is inspiring
Aoki works extremely hard, as hinted by the title of the documentary about his life (“I’ll Sleep When I’m Dead”). As a result of his hard work and love for music, he has created a wide range of music over the years, thereby building an impressive catalog.

5 Surprising Facts

His father founded Benihana
Steve Aoki’s father, Hiroaki Aoki, founded Benihana, an American restaurant company based in New York.
He was a student activist
Aoki was an activist in his college days, setting up a Revolutionary Anti-Imperialist League on campus.
His childhood hero
Aoki loved and revered Bruce Lee, his childhood hero.
Dim Mak Records
Aoki named his record label and subsequent fashion brand Dim Mak as a nod to Bruce Lee's signature fight move: the touch of death.
He’s brilliant at chess
He began playing at age four and was once ranked among the top 250 chess players in the world.