Drake rang in his 40th birthday with a week of celebrations, closing it off with a party that brought together hundreds of guests for surprise performances, luxury gifts and a cash-prize game show.
The festivities began earlier in the week in Toronto. On October 21, he gathered with friends and family at the CN Tower, where he received a collage of personal photographs and memories, Billboard Canada reported. He subsequently travelled to New York with his mother and members of his entourage aboard his private plane.
The rapper celebrated at Manhattan’s Casa Cipriani on October 23, the eve of his birthday, with approximately 400 guests in attendance, according to People. The evening featured a performance by the Backstreet Boys, whom Drake joined onstage for their 1999 hit “I Want It That Way.”
He had previously joined the group at a 2022 concert in Toronto, when Drake performed the song with the band during their DNA World Tour. Drake told guests at his birthday party the song was ''one of the best songs of all time''.
The evening also included extravagant giveaways. Guests received designer handbags from Chanel and Hermès, while a game show offered cash prizes ranging from $10,000 to a reported grand prize of $1 million.
Drake addressed the crowd during the celebration, emphasizing that the night was not intended to promote a new album, tour or commercial venture. “Tonight is just about being alive, staying alive,” he said.
The celebrations continued on October 24, Drake’s actual birthday, with a second party featuring appearances by longtime collaborator Popcaan and rapper Bow Wow. During the event, Drake publicly credited Bow Wow with influencing his development as a performer, telling the crowd, “It wouldn’t be no Drake without Bow Wow''.
The birthday festivities were surely made even better by the fact that, late last week, the Recording Industry Association of America awarded Drake 30 new certifications, making him the first ever artist to surpass 350 million RIAA-certified units.
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