Drake Turns 40, Shares Personal Childhood Photos: ‘I Accept You for You’

Drake celebrated his 40th birthday by sharing childhood photos and a message of acceptance to his younger self: “I accept you for you.” He also joined the Backstreet Boys on stage in New York to sing one of his favourite songs, “I Want It That Way”, connecting the celebration to a track that had personal meaning for him growing up.

The surprise performance took place on Friday, 23 October, at a party reportedly held at members-only club Casa Cipriani. Drake sang throughout the 1999 hit, which peaked at No. 6 on the Billboard Hot 100; Howie Dorough worked a line from Drake’s “Hold On, We’re Going Home” into the bridge. Drake was 13 when “I Want It That Way” was released and has said it made him feel acknowledged and gave him a chance to feel cool.