Steve Aoki has built a vibrant career on capturing the spirit of youth. He’s famous for taking the ultimate symbol of childhood joy – birthday cake – and launching it into the crowd. While the cake-throwing might be less frequent now, it’s an enduring part of his image, and it perfectly encapsulates his music. Aoki’s sound is electrifying, wild, and overflowing with pure fun.
Afrojack
Autoerotique
Kid Cudi
His music isn’t about deep reflection or maturity, although there are moments of subtle depth. People are drawn to Aoki because he embodies unrestrained, purely entertaining, and over-the-top experiences.
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When diving into Steve Aoki’s best songs, expect a chaotic and energetic experience. His music is bold, raw, and unpretentious. Trying to analyze it too seriously is missing the point entirely. So, let’s loosen up and explore 15 of the best Steve Aoki Songs that have impacted the music scene.
15. Steve Aoki – “Wake Up Call” feat. Sidney Samson
True story: This track was my alarm clock back in 2010. I’m not a morning person, but this track’s in-your-face energy was the perfect (and fondly obnoxious) way to get me going. Remember, in 2010, the more outrageous the beat, the better. It was just a different era.
14. Steve Aoki – “Turbulence” with Lil Jon and Laidback Luke
Aoki made it clear from his debut album Wonderland what listeners could expect: loud noise, piercing synths, and hard-hitting beats. He hasn’t softened much in the years since, and there’s something comforting in that consistency. And who doesn’t love Lil Jon? Just maybe skip this one on your next flight – you might worry your fellow passengers.
13. Steve Aoki – “Ladi Dadi” feat. Wynter Gordon
This track from Wonderland leans more towards radio-friendliness compared to his usual aggressive electro anthems. While those harder tracks are signature Aoki, this pop-infused, sing-along style is what gets the crowd, especially the ladies, onto the dance floor. The Tommy Trash remix is also definitely worth checking out.
12. Steve Aoki & Louis Tomlinson – “Just Hold On”
This track is a collaboration with One Direction’s Louis Tomlinson, with Aoki on production. Perhaps that’s why it stands out in Aoki’s discography. It carries a sense of grandeur reminiscent of Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros, with the kind of “oh-oh-oh” hooks that dominate pop radio. It also has hints of The Chainsmokers’ sound. Released earlier this month [in 2016 when the original article was written], it quickly became a radio staple.
11. Steve Aoki – “Boneless” with Chris Lake and Tujamo
This song is named after a skateboarding trick. While I’m no skater, I imagine it’s a rush of adrenaline, much like most Steve Aoki tracks. Again, it’s not about complexity, it’s about a pure, powerful hook. It’s the kind of track that makes you want to grab a beer, stomp around, maybe even punch a wall. Go ahead and let out a scream – the king of energy is here.
10. Steve Aoki – “No Beef” with Afrojack and Miss Palmer
This collaboration predates the “Afroki” super-duo era. “No Beef” is incredibly simple and direct, but back then, it was a phenomenon. Afrojack was at the peak of the Dutch house scene, which was huge in 2011, and Aoki was the ultimate showman. Any track they made together was bound to be massive, and the melody remains iconic. Also, the visuals in the video are wild! Who wouldn’t want to have the kind of fun Aoki and Afrojack are having in that video, even for just one day?
9. Steve Aoki – “Tornado” with Tiesto
A touch of melody doesn’t mean Aoki’s gone soft; it means he’s expanding his musical palette. The very ’80s sonic vibe is matched by a Tron-inspired music video. The drop, of course, is still as stripped-down and heavily filtered as ever. Aoki knows his style, and he sticks to it, pushing it to the max.
8. Steve Aoki – “Beat Down” feat. Angger Dimas and Iggy Azalea
Before it became trendy to criticize Iggy Azalea, it was cool to have her distinctive drawl on your high-energy track. Haters aside, Azalea delivers on this Steve Aoki song. It’s an explosion of energy, a party in your face, and pure dance fuel. Maybe don’t play this for grandma unless you want a call to the authorities.
7. Steve Aoki – “Dope Girlz” with Shaun Frank
This track is particularly interesting because it has all the hallmarks of Aoki’s hardest tracks, but in a more refined, mature way. It’s still hard, edgy, synth-heavy, and intense, but it’s like muffling a sledgehammer with a pillow before smashing things in a china shop. It’s Aoki’s perfect take on the deep, retro-house revival, which is the focus of his 4oki EP.
6. Steve Aoki – “BRRAT” feat. Armand Van Helden
This is intense stuff for house funk master Armand Van Helden, but that’s what happens when you collaborate with punk-spirited Aoki. Suddenly, synth laser beams are everywhere, you’re sampling a raw, energetic voice, and you’ve created something monstrously epic.
5. Steve Aoki – “Cudi the Kid” feat. Kid Cudi and Travis Barker
This is one of those rare introspective moments from Aoki, likely influenced by the emotionally resonant Kid Cudi. Cudi and Aoki have a history of great collaborations, and Aoki is also good friends with Blink-182 drummer Travis Barker. Barker’s electrifying live drumming really elevates this track.
4. Steve Aoki – “I’m in the House” feat. Zuper Blahq
Now we’re talking classic Aoki vibes. Zuper Blahq might sound familiar because it’s will.i.am, unleashed and going wild with an Afrika Bambaataa influence. This track dropped in early 2010 and became an instant staple in every packed, sweaty electro club on the college scene. Countless bottles of cheap champagne were sprayed to this beat. It remains one of Aoki’s best tracks, and the name-dropping of Boys Noize and LMFAO in the same breath perfectly captures the unique vibe of 2010.
3. Steve Aoki – “ILYSM” with Autoerotique
It turns out Aoki is capable of creating amazing music outside of his usual loud, aggressive style. He can definitely delve into the deeper, more soulful side of house music. Here, he teams up with his longtime friends Autoerotique, and while there are still powerful drums and big room moments, “ILYSM” builds up gradually. It’s like good foreplay – it starts slow and intimate, and before you know it, you’re waking up the neighbors.
2. Steve Aoki – “Warp 1.9” with The Bloody Beetroots
This isn’t just one of the best Steve Aoki songs; it’s one of the best electro-house tracks ever made. Skrillex wasn’t really a name yet when this song exploded in early 2009, and dubstep was still an underground UK sound. This was the most intense, wildest sound anyone had ever heard, and it was absolutely amazing. This music could wake the dead or bring your passed-out friend back to the dance floor. It’s pretty much perfect.
1. Kid Cudi – “Pursuit of Happiness” (Steve Aoki Remix)
Before the cake-throwing, there was Aoki standing on the decks, shaking a champagne bottle and spraying it all over the front rows of excited fans. This song was always the climax of the show. This remix is what launched Steve Aoki to fame, and it truly embodies the spirit of 2009 dance music. It’s optimistic and catchy, yet wild and unrestrained. It’s bright and energetic, with electric guitar and an indie edge. It draws on many of the influences Aoki still uses today. It’s impossible not to have a great time when this song is playing, so crank up the volume, roll down the windows, and shout the lyrics as loud as you can. After all, you’re only this young once.
