Steve Aoki

Biography

Steven Hiroyuki Aoki ( ay-OH-kee; born November 30, 1977) is an American DJ and record producer. In 2012, Pollstar designated Aoki as the highest-grossing electronic dance music artist in North America from tours. In 2024, Gold House recognized him as one of the Most Impactful Asians. He has collaborated with artists such as will.i.am, Afrojack, AJR, LMFAO, Tini, Linkin Park, Agnez Mo, Iggy Azalea, Grandson, Lil Jon, Blink-182, Taking Back Sunday, Laidback Luke, BTS, Backstreet Boys, Vini Vici, Lauren Jauregui, and Fall Out Boy and is known for his remixes of artists such as Kid Cudi.
Aoki has released seven studio albums to date, including several Billboard-charting albums. His debut studio album Wonderland×Wonderland10 January 2012 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 16 tracks1Earthquakey People3:362Ladi Dadi4:043Dangerous3:414Come With Me (Deadmeat)4:175Emergency3:376Livin My Love3:087Control Freak3:378Steve Jobs6:159Heartbreaker4:1110Cudi the Kid4:4611Ooh4:4612The Kids Will Have Their Say3:1413Earthquakey People (The Sequel)6:0714Turbulence (radio edit)3:4815No Beef (original mix)6:0116Misfits4:20 was nominated for Grammy Award for Best Dance/Electronica Album in 2013. In 2019, Aoki published a memoir, Blue: The Color of Noise. He is the founder of the Steve Aoki Charitable Fund, which raises money for global humanitarian relief organizations.

Early life and education

Aoki was born on November 30, 1977, in Miami, Florida, but grew up in Newport Beach, California. He is of Japanese descent, the third child of Rocky Aoki and Chizuru Kobayashi. His father was a former wrestler who also founded the restaurant chain Benihana. His elder siblings are sister Kana Grace and brother Kevin (owner of Doraku Sushi restaurant). They have three half-siblings, including model and actress Devon Aoki.
Aoki graduated from Newport Harbor High School in 1995, where he was a player on the varsity badminton team. He later attended the University of California, Santa Barbara, graduating with two B.A. degrees: one in women's studies and the other in sociology.
During college, Aoki produced DIY records and ran underground concerts out of his Biko room in the Santa Barbara Student Housing Cooperative, which was located in Isla Vista, a section of residential land adjacent to UCSB. As a concert venue, the apartment became known as The Pickle Patch. Aoki was also involved in student activism at UCSB, being the founder of a Revolutionary Anti-Imperialist League chapter on campus.
By his early 20s, Aoki had built his own record label, which he named Dim Mak (a Chinese name for the "touch of death") – a reference to his childhood hero, Bruce Lee.

1990s–2000s: Dim Mak Records and early releases

Aoki founded his label, Dim Mak Records, in 1996. The label has released music by other electro house artists such as MSTRKRFT, The Bloody Beetroots, Felix Cartal, and Mustard Pimp, as well as Bloc Party, The Rakes, The Kills, Klaxons, Infected Mushroom, Scanners, Whitey, and Mystery Jets. Aoki teamed up with Blake Miller of the Los Angeles–based band Moving Units to produce remixes. The duo of Miller and Aoki work under the moniker Weird 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 bassist Michael Davis' Music Is Revolution Foundation, a non-profit organization that provides music education support within public schools. Aoki's debut DJ mix album, Pillowface and His Airplane Chronicles×Pillowface and His Airplane Chronicles23 January 2008 · Studio album · DJ-mixSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 17 tracks1New Noise1:532Waters of Nazareth (Erol Alkan’s Durrrdurrrrr re‐edit)2:223We Are Rockstars2:004Element of Danger (MSTRKRFT remix)3:145Bring It On3:456Licky (Work It Out) (Herve Goes Low remix)3:357Shake and Pop3:108Gravity’s Rainbow (Soulwax remix)5:049The Boy Who Ran Away (Riton re‐dub)2:5010Boys Wanna Be Her (Weird Science remix)2:0311Fa‐Fa‐Fa3:3012Je veux te voir3:3313Do You Want To (Erol Alkan’s Glam Racket remix)2:5014Wet ’n Wild2:3215Helicopter (Weird Science remix)4:2216D.A.N.C.E. (MSTRKRFT remix)4:2017Low Life (L.A. Riots remix)5:52 was released in January 2008. He had an Essential Mix that aired on BBC Radio 1 on August 2, 2008, and again on October 27, 2012. Aoki has collaborated with fellow producers and thus far has released singles with The Bloody Beetroots, Armand Van Helden of Duck Sauce, Afrojack, Laidback Luke, Tai, Chris Lake, Angger Dimas, Sidney Samson, and Tiësto. In his interviews, Twitter feed or from his YouTube channel he has shown teasers or has discussed doing future collaborations with Diplo, Knife Party, Datsik, Chris Lake, and more.
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 and Peaches. He remixed the track "The Wind Blows" that features on the UK edition of The All-American Rejects' 2008 album When The World Comes Down. On November 10, 2009, he released a remix for Drake's song "Forever". The song features Drake, Kanye West, Lil Wayne, and Eminem. The track topped Hype Machine's chart in December 2009.

2010–2012: International breakthrough

Through relentless touring, he gained huge support from colleges. He is widely known for his acrobatic crowd surfing stunts, throwing cake at fans, spraying champagne bottles, and riding rafts on the dance floor. 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 days across the United States and Canada. Many of the artists Aoki collaborates with make appearances on tour with him. He has played lesser-traveled regions – in 2009 he played a show in Beijing, China, with Diplo organized by promoters Split Works. In July 2012, Aoki was added to the Pollstar Top 100 North American Tours in their 2012 Mid-Year Report. The list designated Aoki as the highest grossing dance artist in North America for the first half of the year.

In March 2010, Aoki released "I'm in the House", a collaboration with Zuper Blahq—the alter-ego of the Black Eyed Peas singer will.i.am. The song charted at No. 29 in the UK Singles Chart in its first week of release, and later entered the UK Dance Chart and the UK Indie Chart, peaking within the top five in each chart. The song was featured on an Episode of MTV's Jersey Shore, as well as in the feature film Piranha 3D 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.
Aoki's first solo album, Wonderland×Wonderland10 January 2012 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 16 tracks1Earthquakey People3:362Ladi Dadi4:043Dangerous3:414Come With Me (Deadmeat)4:175Emergency3:376Livin My Love3:087Control Freak3:378Steve Jobs6:159Heartbreaker4:1110Cudi the Kid4:4611Ooh4:4612The Kids Will Have Their Say3:1413Earthquakey People (The Sequel)6:0714Turbulence (radio edit)3:4815No Beef (original mix)6:0116Misfits4:20, was released January 2012 and features guest vocalists and musicians LMFAO, Kid Cudi, Kay, Travis Barker, will.i.am a.k.a. Zuper Blahq, Wynter Gordon, Rivers Cuomo, Lil Jon, Chiddy Bang, Lovefoxxx of CSS, Big John Duncan (former guitarist of the punk band The 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 at Madrid Arena, Madrid, Spain. As an extension, there was a stampede, which resulted in three young women crushing to death (two died weeks later), and a further 29 people were injured. Aoki released a statement showing his devastation and that had he known what was happening, he would have stopped the show. He canceled his next show in Bilbao, Spain, out of respect for those who died as a result of the tragedy.
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. Aoki was nominated for Grammy Award for Best Dance/Electronica Album for Wonderland at the 2013 55th Annual Grammy Awards.

2013: Various singles and features

On October 11, 2013, Aoki collaborated with Linkin Park on the song "A Light That Never Comes" that was included on the remix album, Recharged, 18 days later. Several remixes of the song were added on the January 2014 digital download EP A Light That Never Comes (Remixes). "A Light That Never Comes" was used in films such as The 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 by DJ Times magazine and Pioneer DJ.
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 documentary Electric Daisy Carnival in 2011, which in 2014 was used in a trailer for the comedy Think Like A Man Too as well. In 2012, his track "Beat Down×Beat Down31 October 2011 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1Beat Down4:04", featuring Australian rapper Iggy Azalea, was used in a promo for the reality show Bad Girls All-Star Battle. From 2013 to 2014 his track "Boneless×Boneless23 August 2013 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1Boneless4:30" was used in many commercials, with companies including Scion, Budweiser, and Sol Republic. His track "Get Me Outta Here" was used in a Scion commercial in 2014 as well, while "Free the Madness" was used in a 2014 Bud Light commercial. His track "Flight×Flight13 December 2013 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1Flight4:22" in 2014 was used in a commercial for Sol Republic. Aoki's song "Back to Earth", featuring Fall Out Boy, was used in the 2014 film Step Up: All In, while his collaborative single "Freak" with Diplo and Deorro, featuring Steve Bays, was used in the 2014 film 22 Jump Street.

2014–2016: Neon Future two-part album and film

The first part of Aoki's two-part album, Neon Future I×Neon Future I12 August 2014 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 10 tracks1Transcendence (intro)2:032Neon Future6:183Back to Earth4:044Born to Get Wild4:455Rage the Night Away4:456Delirious (Boneless)3:447Free the Madness4:208Afroki4:179Get Me Outta Here5:1610Beyond Boundaries (outro)1:26, was released on September 30, 2014, and reached No. 1 on Dance/Electronic Albums in the United States. The second album, Neon Future II×Neon Future II12 May 2015 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 12 tracks1Time Capsule (intro)3:022I Love It When You Cry (Moxoki)3:123Youth Dem (Turn Up)3:134Hysteria4:265Darker Than Blood5:136Lightning Strikes3:597Tars (interlude)2:218Home We’ll Go (Take My Hand)5:089Heaven on Earth3:4910Holding Up the World3:2111Light Years4:0912Warp Speed (outro)2:08, features artists such as Snoop Lion and Rivers Cuomo. In the United States it peaked at No. 32 on the Billboard 200, No. 1 on Dance/Electronic Albums, and No. 4 on the Independent Albums chart. In Belgium, it reached No. 68 on the Ultratop 200 Albums chart.
In May 2015, it was announced that Relativity Productions had acquired the rights to distribute the documentary I'll Sleep When I'm Dead in the United States. Filmed during the making of his Neon Future double album, the film is focused on Aoki and delves into his family history, lifestyle, music, and business. It is co-produced by Matthew Weaver and David Gelb, who together had previously worked on the 2011 documentary Jiro Dreams Of Sushi. Among the executive producers are Ryan Kavanaugh and Tucker Tooley.
As with the first in the series, Aoki released promo singles leading up to the release of Neon Future II. The second of those singles, "Darker Than Blood", came out on April 14, 2015, and features vocals from Linkin Park. 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". Neon Future II was released on May 12, 2015, through Dim Mak. Among other artists, the second Neon Future featured Snoop Lion and Rivers Cuomo. It peaked at No. 2 on the US Dance/Electronic Albums chart, among other placements in the United States. In Belgium it reached No. 93 on the Ultratop 200 Albums chart.
The 2015 science fiction thriller film The Hive features tracks from the album Neon Future by Aoki,' who created the soundtrack and also served as an executive producer. Aoki is also the central character in the documentary I'll Sleep When I'm Dead.

2017: Steve Aoki Presents Kolony

Aoki's fourth studio album, Steve Aoki Presents Kolony×Kolony21 July 2017 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 10 tracks1Kolony Anthem2:572Lit2:503Without U3:444How Else2:525Been Ballin3:016Night Call4:007$4,000,0003:158If I Told You That I Love You3:169No Time2:3910Thank You Very Much3:14, was released on July 21, 2017. It features the songs "Night Call×Night Call16 June 2017 · SingleSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1Night Call4:00" featuring Migos and Lil Yachty, "Lit" with Gucci Mane, "Been Balling" with Lil Uzi Vert and the lead single "Without You" with DVBBS featuring 2 Chainz which was released in April and debuted at Aoki's Ultra Music Festival 2017 set in Miami. After the death of Linkin Park lead singer Chester 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. In November 2017, it was confirmed that Aoki would be producing a remix of BTS's song "Mic Drop" featuring rapper Desiigner, which was released on November 24. That day, Aoki also released a collaboration with Fifth Harmony's Lauren Jauregui, titled "All Night×All Night17 November 2017 · SingleSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1All Night3:25".

2018–2021: 5OKI, Neon Future III and Neon Future IV

In February 2018, Aoki announced the release of his five-track EP titled 5OKI, the follow-up to his 2016 EP 4OKI. The EP would feature him collaborating with other producers to produce a "cross-genre" track collective. "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," 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×Mayhem23 March 2018 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1Mayhem2:37" featuring Quintino releasing on March 23, 2018, followed by "Pika Pika" with Loopers, "It's Time" with Laidback Luke, "Anthem×Anthem13 April 2018 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1Anthem (extended mix)3:43" with Hardwell, and concluding with "Moshi Moshi" with Vini Vici.
On May 18, 2018, Aoki released the single "Pretender×Pretender18 May 2018 · SingleSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1Pretender3:09" featuring AJR and rapper Lil Yachty. In June 2018, Aoki remixed Rita Ora's hit single "Girls" featuring Charli XCX, Bebe Rexha and Cardi B. Later that month, alongside Italian DJ Marnik, they released their version of "Bella Ciao×Bella ciao10 June 2018 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1Bella ciao2:52", which garnered controversy. Many deemed the new dance music version of the track inappropriate and insulting. On July 20, 2018, Aoki released the single "Lie to Me×Lie to Me20 July 2018 · SingleSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1Lie to Me2:59" featuring singer-songwriter Ina Wroldsen.
In an interview on August 6, 2018, he announced the release of his new album Neon Future III×Neon Future III9 November 2018 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 17 tracks1Neon Future III (intro)4:162Just Hold On3:193Waste It on Me3:134Be Somebody3:185Pretender3:096A Lover and a Memory3:287Why Are We So Broken3:488Golden Days3:249Our Love Glows2:5410Anything More3:0011All Night3:2512Do Not Disturb2:4413Lie to Me2:5914Azukita3:4615Hoovela3:2716What We Started3:2317Noble Gas3:39. It included collaborations with Ira Wroldsen, Nicki Minaj, Maluma, Blink-182, and BTS.
On October 25, 2018, Aoki released "Waste It on Me" which features BTS members, RM, Jimin (with backup vocals), and Jungkook. 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×Neon Future IV3 April 2020 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 27 tracks1Closer to God4:382I Love My Friends3:063Halfway Dead3:244Daylight3:155One True Love3:246Girl3:127Maldad2:488Last One to Know3:189Love You More3:25102 in a Million3:5511Let It Be Me3:44121 4 U3:2313Inside Out2:3814Play It Cool2:5015Crash Into Me3:4616New Blood3:1217Homo Deus3:3618Are You Lonely2:3719Do It Again2:5620Terra Incognita3:232120453:5822Popcorn3:3423I Wanna Rave2:2524Hava4:2025Rave3:2626Cut You Loose4:1927Eevos Atik Foes Ireht3:01, would be released in 2019; it was later released in April 2020.

2022–2023: Hiroquest: Genesis and Hiroquest 2: Double Helix

On September 9, 2019, Aoki released "Let It Be Me", a collaboration with Backstreet Boys, which came about after Aoki met Nick Carter at his Vegas show.
On June 24, 2020, he co-released "Ninja Re Bang Bang Steve Aoki Remix" with Japanese artist Kyary Pamyu Pamyu. This is a remix of Kyary's 2013 hit song of the same name. The song is a theme song for the free-to-play video game Ninjala, released the same day.
On August 21, 2020, Aoki remixed several songs by the anarcho-punk band Crass under a 12" single "normal never was III" with all purchases going towards domestic abuse charity "refuge".
Aoki released several non-album singles in early 2022, including "Welcome to the Playhouse×Welcome to the Playhouse7 January 2022 · SingleSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1Welcome to the Playhouse3:09" (featuring vocals by Shaquille O'Neal) on January 7, and "Da Homies×Da Homies4 February 2022 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1Da Homies3:35" on February 4. He then began to release singles which later appeared on his upcoming seventh studio album, Hiroquest: Genesis×HiROQUEST: Genesis16 September 2022 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 26 tracks1HiROQUEST Anthem3:182Astrals Melodia0:433KULT2:574Movie Star3:345Move On3:116OIO Melodia0:357Just Us Two3:498All Hype3:169You Don’t Get to Hate Me2:5810Russian Roulette2:3811Diasos Melodia0:3512Ultimate3:3313Chi Chi3:3114Kong 2.03:2215Extants Melodia0:4316Whole Again3:3017Save Me2:4618Stop the World2:5919The Whistle2:1220Stars Don’t Shine3:4221Taurobons Melodia0:4622Nobody3:0123Demons2:4724Stars3:0525Perfect4:0426Black Pullet4:04. These included "Kult" (with Grandson featuring Jasiah), "Ultimate" (featuring Santa Fe Klan and Snow Tha Product), and "The Whistle×The Whistle5 August 2022 · SingleSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1The Whistle2:12" (featuring Timmy Trumpet and DJ Aligator).
On September 16, 2022, Aoki released his seventh studio album, Hiroquest: Genesis. The album features many notable collaborators including Mod Sun, PnB Rock, Taking Back Sunday, Lil Xan, Bryce Vine, and many more.
On January 12, 2023, Argentine singer Tini released "Muñecas", a collaboration featuring Aoki and singer La Joaqui, as the ninth single from her fourth studio album Cupido.
On August 18, 2023, Aoki announced his upcoming eighth studio album, a sequel to 2022's Hiroquest: Genesis, called Hiroquest 2: Double Helix×HiROQUEST 2: Double Helix17 November 2023 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 23 tracks1Double Helix3:452Prizm2:193Paranoia3:004Lighter2:465Hungry Heart3:036Us3:177Won’t Forget This Time3:218Wild2:1692 Much 2 Handle3:0810Brothers2:4011Invítame A Un Café3:0712Cartagena2:4313Muñecas2:3614Diferente3:1915Locked Up2:2716The Show3:2817Perfect4:0418I’ll Be Okay2:5519New York2:1220Motor3:0321Mirror Mirror4:0722Kids4:0823Hyro3:22. The album was released on November 17, 2023, and featured Paris Hilton, Akon, Angela Aguilar, Danna Paola, Greeicy, Galantis, JJ Lin, Hayley Kiyoko, Timmy Trumpet, and John Martin, among others.
A remix of "Locked Up" (originally by Akon) by Steve Aoki, Trinix, and Akon was released in August 2023.

2023–present: Paragon and Hiroquest 3: Paragon

On June 28, 2024, Aoki released his ninth studio album, Paragon×Paragon28 June 2024 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 18 tracks1Heavenly Hell3:212Clap Back2:4332x22:474Mad3:155ELECTROWAVEBABY 2.03:386Bum Bum2:4973 Days3:198Visa3:059Weirder Things3:0410Drive2:2011Play the Track2:2512Lose My Mind3:2713Better Run2:3814Flashing Lights3:5215Voices in My Head2:5616Get Lower3:26173 Days (Steve Aoki Hyro Energy remix)3:3018Paragon3:06 and in June 2025, he announced his upcoming tenth studio album and sequel to Hiroquest 2: Double Helix×HiROQUEST 2: Double Helix17 November 2023 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 23 tracks1Double Helix3:452Prizm2:193Paranoia3:004Lighter2:465Hungry Heart3:036Us3:177Won’t Forget This Time3:218Wild2:1692 Much 2 Handle3:0810Brothers2:4011Invítame A Un Café3:0712Cartagena2:4313Muñecas2:3614Diferente3:1915Locked Up2:2716The Show3:2817Perfect4:0418I’ll Be Okay2:5519New York2:1220Motor3:0321Mirror Mirror4:0722Kids4:0823Hyro3:22, titled Hiroquest 3: Paragon×HiROQUEST 3: Paragon27 June 2025 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 39 tracks1Maximus3:132My Life2:483Radio2:294Thanks to You2:495Talk About Love2:186Forget Tonight2:467I’m Going Out2:298Súbeteme Ahí3:269Corridos y Alcohol2:5110Replay2:4911Rio Amazing2:2212We No We3:44131-113:3714All This Time2:2515Easy4:5316Loco2:4817Accelerator2:5918Beautiful3:2719He’s a Pirate (Save Me)2:3320On Off3:2221Afterhours2:3222Instant Moments2:5923Heavenly Hell3:2124Clap Back2:43252x22:4726Mad3:1527Bum Bum2:49283 Days3:1929Visa3:0530Weirder Things3:0431Drive2:2032Play the Track2:2533Lose My Mind3:2734Better Run2:3835Flashing Lights3:5236Voices in My Head2:5637Get Lower3:26383 Days (Steve Aoki hyro energy remix)3:3039Paragon3:06, was released on June 27, 2025.

Media appearances

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 company Rogue. He was featured in the video games NBA 2K8 and NBA 2K9 as a special celebrity player, even though he admits to being terrible at basketball. He makes cameos in the videos for Cobra Starship's 2007 single "Send My Love to the Dancefloor, I'll See You in Hell (Hey Mister DJ)" and The Sounds' single "Tony the Beat". Aoki made a cameo appearance in rapper Kid Cudi's video "Just What I Am". 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 game Dragon Ball Xenoverse 2.
In January 2012, Aoki released new tracks on Turntable.fm in conjunction with SOL REPUBLIC Headphones, making him the first established artist to orchestrate a listening session using the platform fully. Aoki appeared in an episode of The CW's superhero series Arrow that was first aired on March 20, 2013. He played himself, spinning at the grand opening of Oliver Queen's fictional nightclub. He also appeared in an anti-fur ad for PETA, an organization he says he's supported since he was 14 years old. Aoki appeared on Never Mind the Buzzcocks in December 2014. He currently resides in Henderson, Nevada.
On May 8, 2020, he performed in the Fortnite Party Royale Premiere with Dillon Francis and Deadmau5.

Philanthropy

The Aoki Foundation helps fund research on the brain with a focus on regenerative medicine and brain preservation. The fund emphasizes the possibilities of natural life extension that come with the elimination of brain disease. The Foundation supports other causes such as disaster relief, research on developmental disabilities, and animal rights. It has partnered with Keep Memory Alive, SENS Research Foundation, the Buck Institute for Research on Aging, Music for Relief, and Best Buddies International.
In 2013, during his North American tour, Aoki donated a dollar of every ticket sale to four charities: the Brain Preservation Foundation, the University of Rochester Medical Center – Memory Care Program, the American Brain Foundation, and Infusio. Aoki fans were invited to vote for their favorite charity, with the Brain Preservation taking the grand prize. A total of $65,000 was donated, with $33,000 going to the Brain Preservation Foundation.

Personal life

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. The couple amicably split in 2018, citing Aoki's rigorous tour schedule putting a strain on the relationship. In July 2024, Aoki married Sasha Sofine in Montenegro. The couple announced in January 2025 they were due to have a baby and did a gender reveal with Aoki's signature cake. The baby was born in July.
Actress and fashion model Devon Aoki is Steve Aoki's half-sister. Model and singer-songwriter Yumi Nu is Aoki's niece.
After applying in 2022, Aoki was selected to participate in a lunar spaceflight as part of the dearMoon project crew. The mission was slated to occur in the 2023 aboard a SpaceX Starship. Following delays with the Starship program, the dearMoon project was canceled in 2024.
Aoki is signed up for cryopreservation, discussing plans with Peter Diamandis in a 2022 interview A DJ's Crazy Schedule, Cryonics, and the Making of Pursuit of Happiness.