The Reason Behind Steve Aoki’s Cake-Throwing Tradition: Viral Video of Kid Getting “Caked” at Concert

A viral video featuring DJ and record producer Steve Aoki caking a small child during his concert has captured significant online attention. On Monday, September 23, 2024, the 46-year-old artist shared the hilarious moment on his Instagram, showcasing the instance of him throwing cake at a young boy, who was perched on his father’s shoulders. In his Instagram caption, he wrote:

“Help me find him, I want to send him some goodies (red heart emoji).”

This memorable incident occurred during Aoki’s performance on Friday, September 20, 2024, at Eisenhower Park in New York. The footage displayed the young fan sporting a green mask that read “cake,”complete with arrows pointing to a central cutout. Aoki hit the boy directly in the face with the cake, causing a moment of concern as he nearly toppled off his dad’s shoulders. Thankfully, the crowd quickly rallied to support him, ensuring he didn’t fall.

Steve Aoki’s cake-throwing tradition at his concerts has become well-known over the years. In a 2014 interview with UKF, Aoki revealed that he was inspired to start this quirky practice by a song from one of his label Dim Mak Records artists, Autoerotique, titled Turn Up The Volume (2011). The music video for this track showcased cakes bursting in explosive scenes, leading Aoki to throw cake at an audience member during a show in early 2011 as a promotional stunt.

Steve Aoki’s Cake Throwing Tradition Since 2011

During the Friday concert, which celebrated the 125th anniversary of Nassau County in Long Island, both the boy, who ended up with frosting adorning his face, and his father found humor in the event and continued to enjoy the concert afterward. Aoki remarked on his Instagram that the kid “took it like a champ”and added he had tried not to throw the cake too hard.

The music video for Turn Up The Volume featured vibrant cakes being thrown at people in slow-motion shots, which Aoki described as “beautiful and cinematic.”He mentioned in his conversation with UKF that the video went viral, garnering over 200,000 views within just two weeks.

In his effort to promote his artist, Aoki made sure to cake someone during the show while the song played in the background, accompanied by the text, “Autoerotique—Turn Up the Volume,”displayed on the cake itself to provide context to the audience.

According to reports, fans have actively requested Aoki to cake them, often arriving with signs specifically asking for this. This enthusiastic response led to the establishment of the cake-tossing tradition, with Aoki sourcing pastries from local bakers, ensuring they are soft to avoid any injuries.

As shared in his October 2019 profile on AAA Music, Aoki began his journey as a DJ at various parties and bars before relocating to Los Angeles to further his music career. He founded his label, Dim Mak Records, in 1996, named after Bruce Lee’s death touch technique. Steve Aoki gained popularity through remixing tracks for renowned artists such as Jackson 5, Drake, Snoop Dogg, and Lenny Kravitz.

His extensive discography features chart-topping singles like Delirious (Boneless), Darker Than Blood, and Just Hold On. Aoki’s work has garnered him multiple accolades, including a Grammy Award for Best Dance/Electronica Album in 2013 for his album Wonderland.

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