The international music industry has been thrown into mourning following the tragic news that Grammy Award-winning Nigerian-British singer and songwriter Mark Olabanji Yinka Orabiyi, known professionally as Talay Riley, is dead at the age of 35. The highly acclaimed artist passed away on Friday morning, June 5, 2026, after a fatal stabbing incident in the Silvertown area of East London, triggering an immediate murder investigation by Metropolitan Police homicide detectives.
According to reports from the Metropolitan Police, emergency services were called to a residential address on Pankhurst Avenue in Silvertown around 9:00 AM on Friday following reports of a violent assault. Operatives discovered the 35-year-old musician in a garden property suffering from critical stab wounds. Despite the swift response and life-saving efforts of paramedics and emergency medical teams at the scene, Riley succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced dead. A second man in his 20s was also found at the scene with multiple stab wounds and was rushed to the hospital; his injuries are currently reported as non-life-threatening.
The sudden loss of the multi-platinum songwriter has prompted a massive wave of emotional tributes from fans, collaborators, and global music stars. High-profile figures including Stormzy, Khalid, Craig David, and Rochelle Humes have publicly expressed their grief, remembering Riley not only for his massive creative genius but also for his infectious kindness and warm smile. In an official statement, Riley’s family expressed their overwhelming sadness, describing him as a beloved son, brother, and uncle whose humor, generous spirit, and unmistakable presence will be missed the most by those who knew him personally.
Over a stellar career spanning more than fifteen years, Talay Riley established himself as a powerhouse bridge between the UK and US music markets. After signing his first major publishing deal at just 18, he broke into the mainstream in 2009 by featuring on UK rapper Chip’s hit single Look for Me, which peaked at number seven on the UK Singles Chart, and co-writing the UK number one smash Oopsy Daisy. Behind the scenes, his exceptional songwriting prowess shaped era-defining hits globally, including co-writing Khalid’s diamond-certified anthem Young Dumb & Broke, Lights On for H.E.R.’s Grammy-winning album, and standout records for international superstars like Dua Lipa (Last Dance), Britney Spears (Clumsy), Zendaya, Usher, Kehlani, and the rising R&B group FLO.
Detectives from the Met’s Specialist Crime Command are aggressively investigating the circumstances surrounding the fatal stabbing. Police initially arrested three individuals on suspicion of murder, including two men aged 27 and 24, and a 25-year-old woman. Following initial questioning, the 24-year-old man and 25-year-old woman were released with no further action, while the 27-year-old man has been released on administrative bail pending further forensic inquiries.
Detective Chief Inspector Joanna Yorke, who is leading the investigation, has urged local residents, drivers, or anyone with private CCTV or dashcam footage from the Silvertown area on Friday morning to come forward immediately to help piece together the timeline of this tragic event.
