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Who is Top5? Real name and all we know as Canadian rapper stabbed in London following recent arrest

A masked man alleged stabbed rapper Top5 in London.
posted by Shreya Ghosh
Monday 7/14/2025 at 12:30PM EDT
  • Top5 (Image via Instagram/@top5)
    Top5 (Image via Instagram/@top5)

    Canadian rapper Top5 has reportedly been stabbed in London. 

    According to a recent HotNewHipHop report, a man wearing a mask allegedly attacked the artist on his neck while he was busy having a conversation with some of his fans.

    The positive news is that he did not sustain critical injuries, and he is already on his recovery journey.

    While he is famously known as Top5, his real name is Hassan Ali.

    Here's everything we know about the alleged stabbing incident concerning Top5

    The outlet confirmed that Top5 visited London to attend the much-awaited Wireless Festival and join the crowd to enjoy Drake's live performance. Finsbury Park, London, is hosting the energetic festival from July 11 to 13, 2025.

    HotNewHipHop cited information provided by DJ Akademiks and Keep6ixsolid and noted the person in disguise inflicting a penetrating injury to his neck.

    Toronto-based media outlet, Keep6ixsolid, reported the shocking incident, stating,

    "Top5 survives an attempted hit on his life in London after suffering stab wounds to his neck"

     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     

    A post shared by Keep6ixsolid (@keep6ixsolid)

    The post further added,

    "The Toronto rapper was talking to fan when a masked man ran by and stabbed him"

    A couple of hours ago, the outlet further updated in the post's caption,

    "I received word that he is okay and that no arteries were hit in the attempt on his life"

    As of now, there have been no confirmed updates on who stabbed him, the reason behind the physical assault, or the time he was attacked by the unknown guy. Also, local outlets have yet to find any credible details about the accident.

    Top5 was arrested in the past

    According to a May 2025 HotNewHipHop report, York Regional Police personnel arrested the rapper.  

    Taking to X (formerly Twitter), RTN (@RTNCanada) shared a video of the incident on May 17, 2025.

    Earlier this year, in January, Complex cited The Toronto Star confirming Top5's arrest after a gun investigation. Reportedly, officers arrested him in Markham, Ontario, and submitted five charges against him. He possessed a restricted weapon with ammunition and stored it negligently.

    In October 2021, Top5 was charged with first-degree murder of Hashim Omar Hashi, a 20-year-old at the time. According to the outlet, someone shot Hashi in a parking area of a building located at 40 Falstaff Avenue.

    Last year, in September, the concerned judge ruled social media evidence inadmissible and ordered to release of the rapper from imprisonment. Content shared on the internet tried to imply his involvement with the murder.

    After the final decision, the artist came out of the courthouse with his attorney, Gary Grill. He spoke with the media, stating,

    "An innocent man just came home."

    Calling himself "a businessman," he wished that the authorities could "find whoever" was involved in the murder incident. While setting the facts straight, he also clarified that he was not a part of the Go Getem Gang criminal group. 

    Gary Grill also opened up his opinions about the incident, noting,

    "It was very, very weak in my opinion. The problem about prosecuting artists like Mr. Ali based on their music; it fails to understand what the medium is, what's it about, and how drillers approach their audiences. ... It's important for all drillers to portray themselves as the biggest, baddest gangsters on the planet. That's what sells. That's what all drillers are doing."

    After Top5 was released from prison, he shared a photo of himself posing with his lawyer on Instagram and acknowledging Drake for his efforts. He captioned the post, stating,

    "Shoutout big bro @champagnepapi for the Lawyer Fees & Gary Grill for being the best lawyer in Toronto"

    Gary Grill shared its screenshot, appreciating the Hotline Bling star and further noting,

    "Top 5 shouts out drake for paying his lawyer fees after he beat a body in court today."

    Here's what we know about Top5

    In an exclusive conversation with Vice in 2015, Ali shared the story behind his stage name, Top5. He explained,

    "That was my name when I use to play ball. Anything I use to do was Top5. People used to look at me and be like 'he’s top five this, top five that.'"

    He also opened up about his transition into music from sports, elaborating,

    "Basketball is like, in high school you know if you’re going to get into the NBA or not. I realized I didn’t want to play ball. I took rapping as a joke in the beginning, but seeing Drake just all over it inspired me. I’m going to drop a couple songs and you’ll see who’s all over it. Its going to be a surprise when you see this video."

    He rose to fame after his association with world-famous rapper, Drake. Over a decade ago, the Childs Play artists posted a photo with Top5. During the chit-chat, the younger rapper recalled the moment he visited his school after Drake gave him a shoutout.

    He expressed:

    "Everyone ran to me and was like 'you’re my favourite. I want to see you perform at the BET awards!' This all happened the morning after, and I was kind of tired because I was up all night. My teachers came up to me and were like, 'He's gonna call up Drake.' More like five teachers came up to me. Drake went to Vaughan Road Academy; that’s the same school as me."

    During the interview, he also recounted meeting Drake for the first time and shared,

    "The first time I saw Drake I didn’t know who he was. Like I knew who he was but I didn’t know if he was that nice guy or that mean guy. But when I took my shirt off and he jumped in the picture, from that day on, I swear he’s been watching me. He knows these streets. I’m going to drop a couple more songs and then you’ll know it’s official. That night when Drake put up my pictures I’ve never seen it like that. I love Drake he’s a cool guy for putting that out. I salute him I thank him for that, like I have a fan base but he gave me a bigger fan base."

    Top5 also expressed his affection for Chris Brown and Drake and included them in his "personal top five" list, further continuing,

    "Number one is Drake. Number two I’d say is Chris Brown. Number three is, I know Chief Keef isn’t lyrical, but his personality makes the song good. And then Rihanna and Nicki Minaj."

    Additionally, he wished to collaborate with Chris, chiming in,

    "One artist I would love to make a song with is … people might hate me for saying this, but Chris Brown. I love listening to Chris Brown."

    While talking about his music aspirations, the young artist also reflected on the kind of projects he worked on and his growing fan base. Describing how older fans started enjoying his music, he said,

    "I got older people listening to me now. I didn’t have that before. I only had people my age."

    Later, he also spoke candidly of meeting his fans, adding,

    "But now that I hit up schools for basketball or go to the movies, I have people run up and ask for a picture from me when I’m at Yorkdale Mall or at the Eaton Centre. The fanbase I have right now is good. I’m not hated on when I go places."

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    TOPICS: Top5