London, United Kingdom (Running Africa) – British-Nigerian singer, songwriter, and producer Talay Riley has died at the age of 35 following a fatal stabbing in East London, prompting an outpouring of tributes from across the global music industry.
The artist, born Mark Yinka Orabiyi, was found with stab wounds in Silvertown shortly after 9 a.m. on June 5, according to Scotland Yard’s Specialist Crime Command. He was pronounced dead before reaching hospital.
In a statement, Riley’s family thanked fans and fellow artists for the overwhelming support, remembering him as a Grammy Award-winning, multi-platinum songwriter whose talent, kindness, and generosity left a lasting impact on those around him.
Over the course of his career, Riley helped shape some of the biggest hits in contemporary music, contributing to projects by artists including Khalid, Dua Lipa, Zendaya, The Chainsmokers, Kehlani, and FLO, building a catalog that crossed genres and international markets.
Tributes have continued to pour in from across the music community. Stormzy, Oritsé Williams, and Wretch 32 were among those who publicly honored Riley, with Wretch 32 describing him as “a gem” whose legacy would never be forgotten.
Police investigations into the fatal stabbing remain ongoing.
