Why does Steve Aoki throw cake? Video of a small kid getting caked in the face at his concert goes viral

A video showing DJ and record producer Steve Aoki caking a small kid at his concert is making the rounds online. On Monday, September 23, 2024, the 46-year-old musician took to his Instagram to share a video of him throwing a cake on a young boy, who was sitting atop his father's shoulders, with an in-post caption:

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

The incident took place during the EDM artist's show on Friday, September 20, 2024, at Eisenhower Park in New York. The clip showed the little one wearing a green mask that read "cake" with arrows pointing to a central cutout. Aoki hit the boy square in the face, and he almost fell off his dad's shoulders. But the crowd promptly stopped him from falling down, hoisting him up.

It's become a tradition for Steve Aoki to cake someone in the audience. During his conversation with UFK in 2014, the DJ shared that the inspiration behind the tradition came from a song by Dim Mak Records (Aoki's label) artist Autoerotique called Turn Up The Volume (2011). The music video for the track featured cakes exploding. As a way to promote the song, Aoki first caked an audience member during a show in early 2011.

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Since 2011, it's become a tradition for Steve Aoki to cake someone in the audience

Steve Aoki's show on Friday celebrated the 125th anniversary of Nassau County in Long Island. Both the boy, who had icing all over his face, and his father laughed off the incident, enjoying the rest of the concert. In his Instagram post, Aoki stated that the kid "took it like a champ," adding that he tried not to throw it too hard.

The MV for Turn Up The Volume featured colorful cakes blowing in people's faces in slow motion. Talking to UKF, Aoki explained it was "beautiful and cinematic," adding that it went viral with over 200,000 views in less than two weeks.

The DJ, wanting to promote his artist, decided to cake someone out of the show. He ensured the song (including video) played in the background along with the text, "Autoerotique—Turn Up the Volume," written on the cake, so that the audience did not misunderstand.

Per the publication, fans kept asking for Aoki to cake them, even bringing signs asking for the same. This prompted the DJ to begin the tradition. Aoki told UKF that pastries are sourced from local bakers and are soft so as to not hurt anyone.

Per his October 2019 profile on AAA Music, Aoki began his career DJing at parties and bars before moving to Los Angeles to focus on his musical career. He set up his label Dim Mak Records in 1996 (named after Bruce Lee's death touch technique). The EDM artist rose to fame remixing songs by musicians like Jackson 5, Drake, Snoop Dogg, and Lenny Kravitz.

Steve Aoki's discography includes charting singles like Delirious (Boneless), Darker Than Blood, and Just Hold On. His work has earned him several accolades and awards, including a Grammy for best dance/electronica album in 2013 for Wonderland.