Fans of the Backstreet Boys were delighted last night after the surprise guest who joined them on stage during a concert was none other than superstar rapper Drake.
Introduced as “the sixth member” of the band, Drake was brought on to sing I Want It That Way.
What’s better than I Want It That Way?
— Backstreet Boys (@backstreetboys) July 3, 2022
I Want It That Way…. f/ @Drake #BSBTO #DNAWORLDTOUR pic.twitter.com/pKVQK2XtDN
I Want It That Way was released by the American boy band back in 1999 and was the lead single from their album Millennium. The music video for the song has over one billion views on YouTube.
Fans were overwhelmed with the musical combo, turning online to share their excitement.
“So @Drake showing up at my @backstreetboys concert and singing I Want it That Way was not on my 2022 bingo card. And yet, here we are. Iconic,” said one.
“Such an amazing show!The collab I never knew I needed,” Tweeted another.
“Backstreet boys bringing drake out for “Tell Me Why” during their concert is the content I didn’t know I needed,” said a third.
So @Drake showing up at my @backstreetboys concert and singing I Want it That Way was not on my 2022 bingo card. And yet, here we are.
— Michelle Garcia (@garciamichie) July 3, 2022
Iconic #Toronto moment. pic.twitter.com/Fs23fTJdVY
Such an amazing show!The collab I never knew I needed @Drake and @backstreetboys #Toronto pic.twitter.com/bvypuYooxQ
— ღ Stephanie Dianna ღ (@KaosUndone) July 3, 2022
Backstreet boys bringing drake out for “Tell Me Why” during their concert is the content I didn’t know I needed 🥹🥹🥹🥹
— Anisah 🧕🏼 (@anisah_ax) July 4, 2022
This isn’t the first time that Drake has surprised Toronto concert-goers by joining a musical act on stage. In May, Drake joined British rapper Dave during one of his Toronto concerts, but the appearance was less shocking: Drake featured on Dave’s 2016 track Wanna Know.
At the time, Drake said: “Toronto, please. Like I said, this guy right here is a once-in-a-generation talent.”
The Backstreet Boys, who are currently on a major North American & European tour, will be heading to London in November. The group, who have sold 130 million records globally, said in an interview with The Standard in April that their dream collaboration for the London show would be with Adele.
Drake was born and grew up in Toronto and frequently references the Canadian city in his songs - often calling it the 6ix, and labelling himself 6ix God in his 2014 song of the same name.
The rapper is said to still live in the city and his frequent collaborators - producer and OVO-co founder 40 (Noah Shebib) and manager Oliver El-Khatib - are both Toronto-raised.
Drake released his seventh studio album, Honestly, Nevermind, on June 17. It currently sits at number one on the Billboard 200 album charts.
