On the morning of June 5, 2026, a man was found stabbed in the garden of a residential property on Pankhurst Avenue in Silvertown, East London. Emergency services arrived quickly. They could not save him.
The man was Mark Olayinka Orabiyi. The world knew him as Talay Riley. He was 35 years old, and his name was on some of the biggest songs of the past two decades.
Who Was Talay Riley?
Talay Riley was a British-Nigerian singer and songwriter born in London in 1990. He grew up in East London in a household where music was constant, drawing early influence from Michael Jackson, Stevie Wonder, Usher, and Beyoncé. By the time he was 18, he had already signed his first major publishing deal with Global Publishing, an unusually early entry into the professional music industry.
His real name was Mark Olayinka Orabiyi, though he performed and worked professionally as Talay Riley throughout his career. His younger brother, Michael Orabiyi, is also a well-known figure in the music industry, working as a songwriter and producer under the name Scribz Riley.
Riley was not primarily a household name. He was something rarer and more valuable in the music industry: the writer in the room whose fingerprints appeared on records across generations, genres, and continents, even when audiences never knew his name.
The Songs That Made His Career
Riley's career as a songwriter reads like a playlist of the past 15 years of pop and R&B. His credits stretched from grime to stadium pop, from British underground scenes to the top of the Billboard Hot 100.
His breakthrough came through rapper Chip, formerly known as Chipmunk, whose 2009 album he contributed to at just 18. That work led directly to a signing with Jive and Sony Records, and from there, the credits accumulated rapidly.
His biggest commercial moment came with Khalid's "Young Dumb and Broke," a track that reached the top 20 on the Billboard Hot 100. He also wrote Dua Lipa's "Last Dance," Britney Spears' "Clumsy" from her 2016 album Glory, Jason Derulo's "If It Ain't Love," Nick Jonas' "Levels," and Jessie J's "Who's Laughing Now."
His Grammy win came through H.E.R.'s "Lights On," a track that appeared on her 2017 self-titled album. That project won Best R&B Album at the 61st Grammy Awards in 2019, and Riley's contribution earned him one of music's most recognized honors.
His work did not slow down after the Grammy. He contributed to Craig David's "The Time is Now" in 2018, Paloma Faith's "The Glorification of Sadness" in 2024, Kelela's "In the Blue Light" in 2025, and Kehlani's recent self-titled album. He also received a Grammy nomination for his work with British girl group FLO on their debut album "Access All Areas." Industry colleagues described him as one of the most sought-after songwriters working in British music and one known for mentoring younger artists.
Talay Riley as a Solo Artist
Alongside his behind-the-scenes career, Riley consistently released his own music. He first gained mainstream visibility through his feature on Chip's 2009 single "Look For Me," and followed that with solo tracks including "Humanoid," "Make You Mine," and "Not Enough."
He continued dropping new material online throughout his career, and based on his social media activity in the weeks before his death, he appeared to be preparing for the release of a new album. That work will now never be completed.
Talay Riley's Death in East London
On the morning of June 5, 2026, Riley was found with stab wounds in the garden of a residential property on Pankhurst Avenue in Silvertown, East London. A second victim, a man in his 20s, was also found at the scene with multiple stab wounds. That man's injuries were not considered life-threatening.
Metropolitan Police paramedics pronounced Riley dead at the scene. He was 35 years old.
Three people were subsequently arrested on suspicion of murder. A 27-year-old man was released on bail pending further inquiries. A man aged 24 and a woman aged 25 were released with no further action at the time of writing. The investigation remains ongoing.
Detective Chief Inspector Joanna Yorke of the Metropolitan Police's Specialist Crime Command is leading the investigation. In a statement, she said the investigation "continues at pace" and called for anyone in the area at the time, or anyone with security footage from that morning, to come forward.
Tributes From the Music Industry
Riley's family and manager, Cleo Amedume, confirmed his death in a statement shared on Instagram. "Talay will fondly be remembered by those who knew him publicly for his incredible talent as a Grammy Award-winning, multi-platinum-selling songwriter and artist," the statement read. "For those that knew and loved him personally, it is his humor, generous spirit, and unmistakable presence that will be missed the most."
His brother Scribz Riley shared an emotional tribute on Instagram, writing that he "had one of the most unique and special gifts," and that the music industry had lost someone irreplaceable.
Tributes poured in from across the music industry in the days following his death.
Talay Riley Quick Facts
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Real Name | Mark Olayinka Orabiyi |
| Born | 1990, East London, UK |
| Nationality | British-Nigerian |
| Profession | Singer, Songwriter |
| Grammy | Best R&B Album, 61st Grammy Awards (2019) |
| Known For | Dua Lipa, Khalid, H.E.R., Britney Spears |
| Died | June 5, 2026, Silvertown, East London |
| Age at Death | 35 |
| Brother | Scribz Riley (Michael Orabiyi) |
Frequently Asked Questions
Who was Talay Riley?
Talay Riley, real name Mark Olayinka Orabiyi, was a British-Nigerian singer and Grammy-winning songwriter from East London. He wrote hits for Dua Lipa, Khalid, Britney Spears, H.E.R., Nick Jonas, and many others over a career spanning more than 15 years.
How did Talay Riley die?
Talay Riley was stabbed to death on June 5, 2026, in the garden of a residential property on Pankhurst Avenue in Silvertown, East London. He was pronounced dead at the scene. A murder investigation is ongoing.
What Grammy did Talay Riley win?
Talay Riley won a Grammy for his contribution to H.E.R.'s "Lights On," which appeared on H.E.R.'s 2017 self-titled album. That project won Best R&B Album at the 61st Grammy Awards in 2019.
What songs did Talay Riley write?
His songwriting credits include Dua Lipa's "Last Dance," Khalid's "Young Dumb and Broke," Britney Spears' "Clumsy," H.E.R.'s "Lights On," Jason Derulo's "If It Ain't Love," Nick Jonas' "Levels," and songs for Jessie J, Craig David, Kehlani, FLO, and many others.
Who is Talay Riley's brother?
Talay Riley's brother is Michael Orabiyi, known professionally as Scribz Riley. He is also a songwriter and record producer based in London.