The “Harlem Shake” was released as a single from Brooklyn producer Baauer on May 22, 2012 on Mad Decent as a free promotional single. Little did anyone know at the time that the song would later take YouTube by storm in one of the most viral phenomena of the year.

These “Harlem Shake” videos are mostly 30 seconds, featuring somebody in a helmet or mask as they dance in a room with people not paying attention. When the beat of Baauer’s “Harlem Shake” finally drops, all mayhem lets loose. The shot is filled with people dancing and going crazy to the beat.

“Harlem Shake” videos are unlike most viral trends, in that they were not created for promotional purposes. These videos are made by fans letting loose and getting caught up in the viral trend.

It seems as if all this hard work paid off for Baauer, as his song jumped from a free download on Mad Decent to the number one song on iTunes.

Whatever your feelings on these “Harlem Shake” videos may be, one thing can be said for sure, and that’s how far the music industry has changed in the past ten years. From underground producer to number one on iTunes all in less than a few weeks, Baauer has done what most producers only dream of.

It is almost ironic that his U.S. tour with rap producer superstar Just Blaze was named “The Big League Tour,” referring to Just Blaze. The producer is behind such iconic songs like Kanye West’s “Touch the Sky,” T.I.’s “Live Your Life” and Jay-Z’s “Girls, Girls, Girls.” From what started out as a tour headlined by Just Blaze, it switched midway through. With his hit “Harlem Shake,” it seemed as if the tables had turned, and it was the young Baauer’s time to prove himself.

The tour closed out at Webster Hall in NYC with a sold out show. The concert was anything but the average DJ set. It had a feeling that the torch was being passed from Just Blaze to Baauer as the new DJ stepped into the elite group of producers with his hit “Harlem Shake” reaching number one on iTunes earlier that day.

With the mix of old and new, it was everything from Skrillex to Justin Timberlake and anything in-between. Everyone in attendance would feed off of Baauer’s energy in what seemed to be the homecoming of his lifetime. The stage was filled with family and friends of the group welcoming him home, along with the sold out Webster Hall.

It may be too early to say if the “Harlem Shake” will be 2013’s answer to Psy’s “Gangnam Style,” but unlike the South Korean Psy, Baauer is here to stay, emerging as one of the top talents in electronic music today.