I went to Drake’s exclusive party. Here’s what it was really like

Drake’s team hand-pick only women for his parties, and receiving an invite feels like winning the golden ticket. But that’s only the start of a rollercoaster that can end in the night of your life or heartbreak.

As the clock struck midnight on Valentine’s Day, I found myself outside The Caterpillar Club, a small venue tucked away in Sydney, known for its intimate atmosphere and impressive private record collection.

That night, it had transformed into something else entirely - the site of Drake’s ultra-exclusive album release party - a celebration of his latest project, “$ome $exy $ongs 4 U,” made with longtime collaborator PARTYNEXTDOOR.

Getting there was no ordinary feat. Invitations had quietly gone out on Instagram, with Drake’s team hand-picking guests - exclusively women with a social media presence or connection to the music industry.

Receiving that message felt like winning a golden ticket, but it quickly became clear that it was just the beginning.

The event was strictly invite-only, but entry would come down to a final selection process at the door - something I didn’t fully appreciate until I was standing in line.

Drake at The Caterpillar Club in Sydney.

When I arrived at 12.15am, the street outside was packed. Hundreds of women, all dressed to be noticed, were waiting in the cool night air. The low hum of conversations was punctuated by nervous laughter. People were hopeful, but there was also a sense that many would be going home disappointed.

A friend who had been there for 45 minutes warned me the line hadn’t moved. Security kept everything locked down. If you weren’t on the list, you weren’t allowed to line up.

Even those who had been invited were still being vetted. It became clear that being on the list was only the first hurdle.

A man from Drake’s team stepped out of the club. He moved slowly along the line, scanning the crowd without saying much. Occasionally, he would pick out a woman or two, escorting them straight to the front.

It then became clear this final cut was about appearance. The only men present were part of Drake’s team or the event organisers - everyone else was female. I felt the pressure sink in - even with an invite, there were no guarantees.

I was ready to call it a night 15 minutes into waiting when I felt a tap on my shoulder.

“How many you got?” he asked.

“Three,” I said, gesturing to my friends.

After examining my friends he gave us a nod and led us past the line. IDs were checked - strictly 21 and over - and suddenly, we were inside.

The contrast was striking. The club had space for around 200, but there were maybe 100 people there. The air was thick with smoke and a strong smell of weed lingered, but the atmosphere was calm, almost curated.

Every guest looked like they belonged - the kind of crowd you’d expect to see on an Instagram explore page.

Drake was leaning casually against the bar, talking to the bartender, wearing a rhinestone-studded denim jacket that read ‘$$$4U,’ a nod to the album.

Drake on stage with PARTYNEXTDOOR at The Caterpillar Club in Sydney.

Drinks flowed freely with an open bar. Trays of Don Julio shots were passed around, and a member of Drake’s team handed me an Amaretto Sour, the drink everyone seemed to be holding.

Then the music shifted. The night took an unexpected turn as Drake grabbed the mic, with PARTYNEXTDOOR joining him for an impromptu set.

They blended new tracks with older favourites like ‘Passionfruit.’ It felt intimate like we were part of a private moment meant only for those who had made it inside.

Toward the end of the night, a select few of us were handed merch - a shirt with ‘Somebody in Australia loves me’ on the front and ‘$$$4U’ on the back.

As the party began winding down, I was invited to continue the party at The Crown. I passed on it. The night had already delivered more than I expected.

The next day, I caught up with a friend who had also been invited. She waited for hours but never made it inside.

Her story was common. Most women who were invited ended up waiting hours just to leave empty-handed.

It was evident that this wasn’t just an invite-only event. You had to be chosen based on looks.

Good luck Brisbane girls, you might need it.

Originally published as I went to Drake’s exclusive party. Here’s what it was really like