Fifteen years after its 2011 debut, the British crime drama "Top Boy" remains a significant cultural touchstone, having launched and amplified the careers of its cast. The series, which offers an unflinching look at the criminal underworld and social issues in London's Hackney, first aired on Channel 4 before being revived by Netflix in 2019 with support from rapper Drake.

Ashley Walters, who portrayed the complex drug dealer Dushane across all five series, has had a multifaceted career. He attended the Sylvia Young Theatre School from a young age and had early television roles in "Grange Hill" and "The Stephen Lawrence Story." In his late teens, he transitioned to music as part of the hip-hop group So Solid Crew, achieving a number one hit with "21 Seconds." After a period of legal trouble and a prison sentence for firearm possession, Walters returned to acting, finding widespread recognition with "Top Boy." More recently, he has received critical praise for his performance in the series "Adolescence" and has ventured into directing with his prison drama "Animol," which draws from his own experiences.

Kano, who played the fan-favorite character Sully, has also maintained a successful music career alongside his acting. He took on the lead role in Daniel Kaluuya's co-directed and co-written dystopian Netflix sci-fi drama "The Kitchen." Reports during the filming of "Top Boy's" final series suggested Kano had disagreements with producers over a storyline for his character, leading to a temporary pause in production.

Musician Dave, who played the menacing Modie, Sully's prison rival, is primarily known for his highly successful music career, having won multiple BRIT Awards. During his 2020 BRIT Awards performance, Dave notably criticized then-Prime Minister Boris Johnson, calling him racist.

Giacomo Mancini, who portrayed Gem, a young man drawn into drug dealing, has since appeared in series like "The IT Crowd" and "Ripper Street," as well as Amazon's sci-fi series "Supacell." Last year, Mancini welcomed his first child, a daughter named Mia Bella.

Jasmine Jobson, who had her breakout role as Jaq, earned a BAFTA for Best Supporting Actress. Jobson, who was in foster care from age 14, has described "Top Boy" as life-changing, enabling her to pursue acting full-time. She recently dated co-star Kadeem Ramsay, who played Kit. Jobson is set to star in and executive produce a "Top Boy" spin-off series tentatively titled "Jaq."

Saffron Hocking played Lauryn, Jaq's sister, whose storyline concluded tragically with a drug overdose in the final series. Since "Top Boy," Hocking has appeared in various television and film projects, including "The Devil's Hour," "Moon Knight," and "Riches." She was reportedly linked romantically to actor Will Poulter.

Micheal Ward, known for his role as Jamie, a rival to Sully and Dushane, received the 2020 BAFTA Rising Star Award. Ward, who rose to prominence in the film "Blue Story," also appeared in the BBC's "Small Axe" and the film "Empire Of Light." He was notably cleared of rape charges in July. Ward has been recognized for his potential in acting, with past speculation about a potential James Bond role, and has also worked with brands like Burberry and appeared in "The Beautiful Game" and "Eddington."

Little Simz, who played Shelley, Dushane's on-off partner, has achieved considerable success in her music career, winning a BRIT Award for Best New Artist and multiple MOBO and NME awards. Her sixth studio album, "Lotus," released last year, peaked at number three on the UK charts.

Model Adwoa Aboah, who played Jaq's girlfriend Becks, was already a well-established figure in the fashion industry before her role in "Top Boy." She has since appeared in Lena Dunham's Netflix series "Too Much" and welcomed a daughter in August 2024. Aboah has been open about her past struggles with addiction and her journey to sobriety.

The revival of "Top Boy" by Netflix, with Drake's involvement, has been instrumental in its continued success. Creator Ronan Bennett initially was unaware of Drake's prominence but later met with him and was assured that Drake's intention was to support the creative vision rather than control it, providing the "fuel to the fire" for the show's return.