Top5, a Toronto rapper born Hassan Ali, has been making headlines, and this time, it is not because of his music. On January 24, 2025, Top5 was arrested in an investigation regarding firearms in Markham, Ontario.
The search warrant executed on a residence saw the seizure of one firearm. The rapper faces several charges, including unauthorized possession of a firearm, careless storage, and possession of a prohibited firearm with ammunition.
This arrest comes just months after Top5 was released from prison following the dismissal of charges related to a high-profile 2021 murder case. Despite the controversies that have marred his career, the rapper’s name remains inextricably linked to Toronto’s music scene and the gritty culture of drill rap. As his legal troubles mount once more, it begs the question of what might come next for the artist whose lyrics and persona often reflect the turbulent nature of his life.
Top5 has never shied away from controversy, a fact that’s simultaneously fueled his rise in the rap game and subjected him to public scrutiny. He made headlines for the music and the high-profile court battles. In 2021, he was accused of murdering 20-year-old college student Hashim Omar Hashi; the case sent shockwaves through Toronto. However, in 2024, charges were dropped after a judge ruled that evidence such as social media posts and videos, including music, were not admissible in court.
One surprising turn in Top5’s story was the support he got from the biggest music icon in Toronto: Drake. During his murder trial, Top5 publicly thanked Drake for covering his legal fees, an act of music fraternity solidarity, if nothing else. Drake did more than this to support him; he lent some credibility to Top5’s career. At least for fans, that connection symbolized how Top5 could put the legal woes behind him and focus on making music.
Not everyone in the game shared Drake’s optimism about Top5, though. In one interview that went viral, music manager Wack 100 warned Drake to distance himself from the problem child of a rapper. Wack even went so far as to claim he had incriminating evidence on Top5, adding fuel to the fire and opening up a public beef between the two.
Top5 dismissed the allegations, though, with the same brazen attitude that has defined his persona.
Critics say Top5’s legal woes eclipse his artistry. Memes and comments mocking the rapper blew up on social media; many say his lifestyle is catching up to him. Others say it’s a greater conversation about drill artists and how lyrics are used against them in court.
And while Top5 has been behind bars, the future of his career has been called into question. Will his latest scrape with the law finally end his career, or can he use this moment to rebuild and reconnect with his fanbase? His believers hope he’ll keep bringing the blunt, unapologetic lyrics that made him famous.
