Drake celebrated his 40th birthday at Casa Cipriani in New York on Oct. 23 with more than 400 guests, and the night’s biggest moment came from five guys who were huge before most of the room had a driver’s license. The Backstreet Boys performed as a surprise, and Drake joined them for“I Want It That Way,”a song that was playing at his bar mitzvah. He’s said that evening was the first time he ever felt acknowledged, which makes the onstage moment more than just a photo op.
The party itself was Drake-sized. Giveaways included Chanel and Hermès handbags, plus game show prizes that reportedly climbed to $1 million. The celebration started in Toronto with a CN Tower gathering, included a dinner at Mamo, and ended with Drake and his mother flying to New York on Air Drake.
Then came the career news: the RIAA issued Drake 30 new certifications, making him the first artist to surpass 350 million certified U.S. units, with 18 Diamond releases, more than any other artist. On stage, he told the crowd the night wasn’t about a tour or an album. It was about being alive and staying alive. What song would you want playing at your 40th if the actual band showed up?
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Local Lawton
Local Lawton is a contributor to LocalBeat, covering local news and community stories.