Mazel tov! While Drake is used to playing sold-out stadiums, the rapper entertained a much smaller audience over the weekend. On Saturday, February 20, the Grammy winner made an appearance at a bat mitzvah in NYC, treating tween partygoers to an intimate performance of his hit song “Hotline Bling."
In videos posted to social media, Drake, 29, is seen interacting closely with the crowd — even serenading one very lucky unnamed girl, presumably the guest of honor, with “Hotline Bling.” In addition to singing his viral track, the hip-hop star also performed “Sweet Sixteen” and his collaboration with Fetty Wap, “My Way.”
Drake performing "Hotline Bling" at a bat mitzvah tonight in NYC. pic.twitter.com/M6oASIncUD
— Word On Road (@WordOnRd) February 21, 2016
Drake performing "Summer Sixteen" at a bat mitzvah last night in NYC. pic.twitter.com/Vq2sOS79LE
— Word On Road (@WordOnRd) February 21, 2016
Drake performing "My Way" at a bat mitzvah tonight in NYC. pic.twitter.com/yD9tk9T8rJ
— Word On Road (@WordOnRd) February 21, 2016
It’s unknown whether Drake was hired for the gig or if he was invited as a guest. In 2011, he was reportedly paid $250,000 to take the stage at the bar mitzvah of the son of Jeff Zucker, then the president of NBC Universal.
The Toronto native, who is Jewish, reimagined his own bar mitzvah for his music video for “HYFR” back in 2012.
“Jewish kids didn’t understand how I could be black and Jewish, ’cause we’re all young. It was just stupid, annoying rich kids that were closed-minded and mean, so I dealt with that more than anything,” he told Vibe in a 2013 interview. “But it had everything to do with being Jewish, not being black. Like, ‘Why is this guy having a bar mitzvah?’ It was just tough for them to understand.”
