Steve Aoki: Represent

“I grew up Nisei,” Steve Aoki tells Apple Music. “My mother and father immigrated from Japan. Thankfully, my mom, who raised me, taught me about Japanese culture and my Japanese heritage. My father showed me that even though the odds were stacked against him as an Asian in America, he could make his own way while still representing his culture.” In his 25-year career, the globe-trotting DJ/producer has created a dance music empire through his house and electro record label Dim Mak (a nod to his childhood hero Bruce Lee). That perspective is on full display in this exclusive playlist, which kicks off with an Aoki remix of BTS’s “MIC Drop” and features tracks from Yaeji, Rina Sawayama, and H.E.R. ”My heritage is everything to me and is also complex,” he says. “I'm Japanese, but I'm also American, so my perspective on life and racial identity informs what I create as an artist. I'm proud to be part of the AAPI community being empowered by the incredible men and women that have pushed our cultures and identities forward. In this playlist, I wanted to celebrate Asian American and Pacific Islander artists both from the US and from Asia. Let's introduce people to our sound, community, and culture.”