By Daily Review Online
British singer-songwriter Talay Riley has died at the age of 35 after a fatal stabbing in east London, prompting an outpouring of tributes from fellow musicians and fans.
According to the Metropolitan Police, officers responded to reports of a stabbing at a property on Rayleigh Road in Silvertown at about 9 a.m. on Friday. Riley, whose real name was Mark Orabiyi, was discovered in the garden of the residence with stab wounds and was pronounced dead at the scene.
Although formal identification is yet to be completed, police confirmed that Riley’s family has been informed and is receiving support from specialist officers.
In a statement, his family described him as “a beloved son, brother, uncle and friend” whose kindness, talent and positive spirit touched many lives.
“He brought love, light and joy to our family and to all who knew him,” the statement read. “We will always cherish his kindness, beautiful spirit and remarkable talent. His presence touched many lives, and his memory will remain in our hearts forever.”
A second victim, a man in his 20s, was also hospitalized with multiple stab wounds. Authorities said his injuries are not believed to be life-threatening.
Police launched an investigation and initially arrested three suspects on suspicion of murder. A 27-year-old man was later released on bail pending further inquiries, while a 24-year-old man and a 25-year-old woman were released without further action.
Detective Chief Inspector Joanna Yorke described the incident as tragic and appealed to members of the public for information, particularly anyone with CCTV footage or recordings from the area around the time of the attack.
Riley was a respected figure in the British music industry, known for co-writing Chipmunk’s 2009 hit Oopsy Daisy and contributing to songs by major artists including Tinie Tempah, Jessie J, Ellie Goulding, Wiley, Britney Spears, Khalid and Craig David.
He also toured extensively across the United Kingdom and the United States alongside artists such as Skepta, Usher and Trey Songz. At the time of his death, he had more than 76,000 monthly listeners on Spotify.
Tributes from fellow artists quickly flooded social media. Rapper Stormzy posted a brief but heartfelt message, writing, “I’m sorry bro.”
Craig David, who collaborated with Riley on his album The Time Is Now, expressed condolences to the family, saying Riley’s “beautiful energy” would continue to be felt.
Television presenter and singer Rochelle Humes remembered him as a kind and friendly person, while rapper Chip, formerly known as Chipmunk, paid an emotional tribute to his longtime collaborator, praising his songwriting talent and the impact he made on British music.
Artists including Krept, Konan and Kehlani also joined in mourning Riley’s death.
Police investigations into the circumstances surrounding the stabbing remain ongoing.