Who is rapper Top5 aka Hassan Ali? Drake’s Canadian pal stabbed hours after London concert

Superstar Drake’s fellow Canadian rapper Top5 aka Hassan Ali was reportedly stabbed in a gang-led attack just hours after watching the “Hotline Bling” hit-maker’s set in North London. The violent incident unfolded at the Wireless Festival, leaving Ali with a wounded leg. While certain reports maintain that he was struck in the neck, other claims suggested that he was stabbed in the neck.

Shocking visuals of the horror attack showed a gang surrounding Hassan Ali’s car, a white Mercedes. The group of about dozen thugs is even seen climbing on top of the vehicle and stamping hard on its windscreen. Soon after that, what seemed like three men started kicking the man inside the car, which was ultimately left with a cracked windscreen and an open boot.

A spokesman for the Metropolitan Police revealed that after “a man in his 20s” was taken to the hospital after he was stabbed in the leg in Springpark Drive. “His injuries are not believed to be life-changing,” he added.

What do we know about Rapper Top5 aka Hassan Ali?

The Toronto native is clearly one of Drake‘s dear friends as the duo was spotted catching a basketball game in January. Top5 affectionately referred to the “God’s Plan” singer as his “twin,” according to The US Sun. In light of Drizzy’ London gig, Hassan Ali even shared snaps of himself enjoying his Wireless Festival performance from a VIP section close to the stage.

It is believed that members of a members of rival rap gang attacked Ali after he said “There is no real killers in London” on a livestream.

Rapper Top5 criminal history

Last year, Ali was released from custody after being charged with first-degree murder in connection to the death of a 20-year-old accounting student. He was in jail for three years.

At the time, the Crown theorised that Ali was a member of a gang that rivalled another one in the area where the deceased was shot. Top5 denied the allegations, saying, “An innocent man just came home. R.I.P. I’m an innocent man. Hope they find whoever did that.” When Ali was confronted about the possibility of being a gang member, he simply replied, “No, I’m a businessman.”

Meanwhile, his defence lawyer said the drill rap artist’s lyrics, videos and identity as “Top5” fell to his disadvantage. “The problem about prosecuting artists like Mr. Ali based on their music is it fails to understand what the medium is, what it’s 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,” he said.

Prior to his release, the rapper was charged with accessory after the fact to murder, which was upgraded to first-degree murder in March 2021. Until then, he was under house arrest. strapped with an ankle monitor. Ali reportedly vanished until his 2021 arrest.

Hassan Ali has just three posts on his Instagram feed. One is dedicated to his lawyer Gary Grill, the other shows him partying it up with his pal Drake, and the third and final one pictures his birthday meet-up with Kanye West aka Ye.