Drake’s Wireless gig turns dark as rapper Top5 stabbed in north London attack
What began as a night of music and celebration at Drake’s Wireless gig in Finsbury Park took a violent turn just hours later, when Canadian rapper Top5 was stabbed in a brutal north London assault.
Hassan Ali – known to fans as Top5 – had just wrapped up an evening enjoying Drake’s headline set from the VIP area at Wireless Festival when the horrifying attack unfolded. The rapper, travelling in a white Mercedes, was ambushed by a mob of around a dozen men shortly after midnight on Monday.
Witness footage shows the group surrounding his car, climbing on the bonnet and viciously stomping the windscreen. Seconds later, they open the doors, forcibly dragging him from the vehicle while delivering a series of kicks. Chaos erupted.
Police were called to the scene at approximately 12:15am. A spokesperson for the Metropolitan Police confirmed: “The victim, a man in his 20s was approached by a group who damaged his car before stabbing him in the leg.
He was taken to hospital and his injuries are not believed to be life-changing.Enquiries remain ongoing and no arrests have been made at this stage.”
It’s believed the incident may have been triggered by Top5’s earlier online comments. The rapper reportedly posted on social media before the event, taunting London’s street scene by stating: “There is no real killers in London.”
The provocative post may have struck a nerve. Just last year, Top5 was cleared of a murder charge back home in Toronto. In a rare moment of reflection, he had taken to social media to thank his legal team following the verdict.
His Instagram feed otherwise paints a picture of high-profile friendships – from a birthday meet with Kanye West to a photo with Drake, captioned: “The President & The Boy.”
Despite the shocking violence, Drake’s Wireless shows continued to make waves. Over the weekend, the 38-year-old megastar lit up Finsbury Park across a historic three-night run – the first time any artist has headlined the festival three times back-to-back.
Drake praised the UK scene during his set, declaring: “No disrespect to America, but nobody in the world can out-rap London rappers. This is the highest level – this is what I aspire to be.”
His performances spanned fan favourites like Nonstop, Know Yourself, and God’s Plan, as part of his global 2025 tour.
Meanwhile, the Met Police are urging witnesses or anyone with information about the attack on Top5 to get in touch. You can call 101 or reach out via X (formerly Twitter), quoting CAD105/17JULY.
As Wireless continues to draw global talent, the streets just beyond the stage remain volatile – a stark reminder that fame and music don’t always shield from danger.
