Drake ushered in his 40th birthday in extravagant style Friday night in New York City, treating hundreds of partygoers to a surprise performance by the Backstreet Boys and distributing high-end designer gifts, Billboard reported.
The private gathering took place at Casa Cipriani in Manhattan on the eve of his official birthday on Saturday, Oct. 24. More than 400 attendees packed the venue, where an interactive game show handed out cash rewards reaching as high as $1 million, while attendees received luxury handbags from fashion houses Hermès and Chanel, according to details from TMZ cited by Billboard.
A nostalgic stage reunion
The centerpiece of the evening arrived when the Backstreet Boys delivered an unannounced performance before welcoming Drake to the stage to sing their 1999 pop smash, “I Want It That Way.”
The collaboration echoed an earlier onstage meeting between the artists. In July 2022, the group invited Drake out as an honorary member during their DNA World Tour stop at Toronto’s Budweiser Stage. Drake revealed during that 2022 performance that the track had played during a pivotal moment at his bar mitzvah when a girl asked him to dance, which he called the first occasion where he felt a chance at being cool.
Addressing the crowd on Friday night, the Canadian rapper reflected on reaching the age of 40 after two decades in the music spotlight.
“Tonight isn’t about a tour, an album release, or a bunch of videos we shot,” Drake told the room, according to Billboard. “It’s about being alive, staying alive.”
The Manhattan event served as the finale of multi-day birthday festivities. The celebrations began on Wednesday, Oct. 21, in his hometown of Toronto, where close friends and fellow artist Popcaan surprised him with a commemorative photo collage during a gathering inside the CN Tower, XXL reported. Drake, his mother and his entourage subsequently flew to New York aboard his customized Boeing 767, known as Air Drake. On Thursday, Oct. 22, he was seen dining at the Italian eatery Mamo in SoHo wearing a fringed chestnut-brown poncho, t2ONLINE reported.
Setting records ahead of future plans
The milestone celebration coincided with a historic commercial achievement. On Friday, the Recording Industry Association of America granted Drake 30 new certifications, making him the first musical act to surpass 350 million RIAA-certified units, Billboard reported.
The updated tallies granted Diamond status to his album “Views” and tracks “In My Feelings” and “Marvin’s Room,” while “God’s Plan” attained double-Diamond recognition. His May release “Iceman” earned platinum status, pushing his career count to 18 Diamond plaques and widening his lead for the most earned by any musician.
Looking ahead, Drake has signaled plans to support his latest projects on the road. Following the consecutive releases of “Iceman,” “Habibti” and “Maid of Honour,” the artist previously pledged to launch a concert tour in 2027, according to XXL. Music industry reports also indicate he remains under consideration as a possible headliner for the 2027 Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival, which would mark his first top-billed appearance at the event since 2015.
