AceShowbiz - Netflix has demonstrated a keen interest in British television, backing acclaimed projects like Baby Reindeer and Adolescence, along with the highly anticipated Peaky Blinders film, The Immortal Man. Among these successes, one notable British crime drama that found new life on the streamer is Top Boy. Its revival was significantly influenced by a prominent musical figure, which played a crucial role in bringing the show back to screens.

Created by Ronan Bennett, Top Boy first premiered on Channel 4 in 2011 with a short four-episode season. The series is set in Hackney, London, and follows the complex partnership between Dushane, played by Ashley Walters, and Sully, portrayed by Kane Robinson (also known as Kano), a well-known UK grime artist. Together, they run a drug enterprise from the Summerhouse council estate tower block. The initial season was met with critical acclaim and holds an impressive near-100% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. In 2013, the show returned for a second season that was also well-received by critics and fans alike.

Despite the positive reception and growing fanbase, Channel 4 decided not to continue the show beyond its second season, leaving viewers with an unresolved cliffhanger. One high-profile fan eager to see the story concluded was rap superstar Drake. His enthusiasm for the series led him to advocate for its revival, reaching out directly to Netflix on its behalf. This intervention set the stage for Dushane and Sully’s story to continue, despite how abruptly it had ended.

The revival of Top Boy owes much to Drake’s persistence. After the cancellation in 2014, it took several years before a new season could be produced, largely due to the rapper’s efforts. Speaking with BAFTA Guru about the show’s comeback, Ronan Bennett admitted, "When 'Top Boy' was canceled, it was one of those ones I wasn't able to shrug off. It meant too much. When I heard that Drake was interested, I didn't pay it a lot of mind, partly because I didn't know who he was."

Eventually, negotiations succeeded, and in 2019, Top Boy returned, this time reaching a global audience who were encountering Dushane and Sully for the first time.