Controversial artist Hassan Ali from Toronto, professionally known as “Top5,” was arrested on May 17, 2025, by York Regional Police for the second time this year. He was arrested at about 3:00-3:30 PM, and his arrest was recorded and instantly went viral on various social media and hip-hop news websites. This is the latest among a mounting number of criminal issues that face 26-year-old Hassan despite being recently acquitted of murder in September 2024.
York Regional Police arrested Top5 on Saturday, May 17, 2025. The arrest was recorded and broadly shared on social media and was posted by various accounts, including RTN Canada, Keep Six Solid, and Straight Out the Six early on.
Like No Jumper, DJ Akademiks also shared a video where police officers accompany Top5. The arrest allegedly occurred when We Love Hip Hop Network recorded a podcast. Top5’s team and the authorities have made neither an official statement about the charges nor how and when he was arrested.
This arrest follows Top5’s previous legal troubles earlier this year. In January 2025, Toronto police arrested him on firearm-related charges after executing a search warrant in Markham, Ontario. He faced five charges, including unauthorized possession of a firearm and careless storage of a gun.
Top5 was released from custody approximately two weeks later, around Valentine’s Day, and celebrated his release on Instagram, coinciding with Drake’s album release.
In September 2024, Top5 was cleared of murder charges related to the 2021 fatal shooting of 20-year-old Hashim Omar Hashi after a judge excluded key evidence. During his time in custody at Maplehurst Correctional Complex, he recorded a music video for the song “21 Questions,” which contained controversial lyrics about gun possession and violence.
Top5 has garnered attention for his connections within the hip-hop industry. He has developed a friendship with Kanye West, who reportedly offered him an opening slot at a performance in Korea and gifted him a controversial swastika chain. Top5 is also associated with Drake and the OVO circle, with some suggesting Drake helped him beat his previous murder charge. These connections have kept him in the public eye despite his legal issues.
Some in the rap community have reacted with humor, while others speculate about the reasons for the arrest. On Reddit’s r/Torontology, users suggested the arrest might be related to a breach of conditions from his previous charges, though this remains unconfirmed.
Top5 faces an uncertain legal future following his arrest by York Regional Police. The specific charges remain unclear, but his history of firearm-related offenses and previous serious legal issues provides essential context.
