Talay Riley Dies at 35 — Britney Spears Now Songwriter Dead in London
britney spears now songwriter Talay Riley died at 35 after a stabbing in East London. He was found in a garden on Friday around 9 a.m. local time with stab wounds and pronounced dead at the scene. Police say the case remains active after three arrests.
Talay Riley and Mark Orabiyi
Riley’s real name was Mark “Yinka” Orabiyi, and his family and manager, Cleo Amedume, shared his death in a statement on Instagram. She wrote: “Talay will fondly be remembered by those who knew him publicly for his incredible talent as a Grammy Award-winning, multi-platinum-selling songwriter & artist. For those that knew and loved him personally it is his humor, generous spirit and unmistakable presence that will be missed the most.”
That statement matters because Riley was not a one-credit name. His writing list included Britney Spears’ “Clumsy,” Dua Lipa’s “Last Dance,” Khalid’s “Young Dumb & Broke,” H.E.R.’s “Lights On,” Jessie J’s “Who’s Laughing Now,” Jason Derulo’s “If It Ain’t Love,” and Nick Jonas’ “Levels.”
Chip, Flo, and the 61st Grammys
Riley broke through in 2009 through collaborations with the grime MC Chip, then co-wrote and appeared on songs from Chip’s debut, I Am Chipmunk. Their song “Look for Me” peaked at Number Seven on the U.K. singles chart, and Riley later had a minor hit with “Make You Mine” on his 2011 mixtape Going to California.
His profile kept widening after that. Riley contributed to Paloma Faith’s 2024 album The Glorification of Sadness, Kelela’s 2025 effort In the Blue Light, and Kehlani’s recent self-titled LP. He also worked closely with the British girl group Flo and received a Grammy nomination for their debut album Access All Areas.
Metropolitan Police arrests
The Metropolitan Police said Riley was found in a garden with stab wounds around 9 a.m. local time on Friday. A second victim, a man in his 20s, suffered injuries that were not considered life-threatening. Police arrested three people on suspicion of killing Orabiyi; one was released on bail pending further inquiries, and the other two were released with no additional action taken.
Detective work is now the decisive layer here, not the tribute posts. A Metropolitan Police detective said the investigation continues at pace, and police are still asking anyone with information or security footage from the area to come forward.
He had one of the purest hearts I’ve ever known. He loved deeply, gave freely, and touched countless people through his talent, kindness, and spirit. The outpouring of love already shows how many lives he impacted. You inspired so many people and your legacy will
Britney Spears credit
Riley’s death lands hardest in the long tail of his catalogue. A songwriter with credits attached to Britney Spears, Dua Lipa, H.E.R., and Flo was still adding to recent projects, so the loss cuts across catalog value, active sessions, and the people who built records around his writing. The criminal case will move separately from that work, but his discography is now the clearest measure of how much ground he covered before 35.
