Drake celebrated his 40th birthday with over 400 guests, million-dollar prizes, and tons of gifts. amazing performance From the Backstreet Boys – one day after adding another record to their already historic resume.
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The Toronto superstar celebrated at New York’s Casa Cipriani on Friday night (October 23), just hours before she officially turns 40 on October 24. According to TMZ, guests were given luxury gifts including Chanel and Hermès handbags, while a game show held during the party offered cash prizes ranging from thousands of dollars to $1 million.
The biggest musical surprise of the night came courtesy of the Backstreet Boys, who performed for the crowd before joining them on stage for Drake’s 1999 hit “I Want It That Way.”
Amidst the spectacle, Drake took a moment to reflect on the milestone.
“Tonight isn’t about a tour, an album release or a bunch of videos we shoot,” he told the room. “It’s about survival, staying alive.”
The New York celebration covered several days of birthday celebrations that began at home in Toronto. Earlier in the week, Drake gathered with friends at the CN Tower, where he was surprised by a collage of photos and memories. Popcaan was among those present.
Drake later traveled to New York with his mother and members of his entourage aboard Air Drake, his customized Boeing 767, and was seen dining at Soho restaurant Mamo’s on Thursday night (October 22).
The appearance of the Backstreet Boys also made some history. In July 2022, the group brought Drake on stage during their DNA World Tour stop at Toronto’s Budweiser Stage and introduced him as their “sixth member” before performing “I Want It That Way”.
Drake told the crowd that night that the song playing at his bar mitzvah evokes an early memory, when a girl he liked came up to him and asked him to dance.
“It was the first time I felt accepted, and the first time I felt like I had a chance to be cool,” he recalled, before calling the track “one of the greatest songs of all time.” He joined the group for the performance, even weaving in parts of his own “Hold On, We’re Going Home” into the Backstreet Boys classic. Four years later, the song returned as a soundtrack to another milestone.
Drake’s 40th birthday marked another major career milestone. On Friday (October 23), the Recording Industry Association of America awarded him 30 new certifications, making him the first artist to surpass 350 million RIAA-certified units.
Scene“In My Feelings” and “Marvin’s Room” were all newly certified Diamond, while “God’s Plan” reached 2x Diamond status. His latest album, mountain climberIt went platinum just five months after its release in May. Drake now has 18 diamond plaques, tying his record for the most of any artist.