Jamal Edwards.
British entrepreneur, founder of SBTV Online, an online urban music platform, DJ and rapper that popularised the Grime genre, has passed away at the age of 31 on 20 February 2022.
His company confirmed the news of his death to BBC yesterday (20 Feb). His cause of death is unknown.
May he rest in peace, and condolences to his family.
SBTV Music
Jamal Edwards was born in Luton on 24 August 1990, and raised in Acton, London.
He was the son of the singer and Loose Women presenter Brenda Edwards, and the beginnings of his music career and later, entrepreneurship, started when he was given a video camera at the age of 15.
Back in 2005 and 2006, underground and developing genres tended to stay within their own local spheres without gaining much traction or outreach, especially since social media platforms were still in their infancy.
In an interview with BBC Radio 1Xtra in 2017, Edwards explained that his YouTube channel SBTV Music—the abbreviated form of his own DJ and rapping moniker SmokeyBarz—had been born out of frustration to a certain extent.
He heard the great music in his area but struggled to find it online, so his simple solution to the problem was to film the artists in his area and upload it to YouTube.
Back then, Grime, a genre of electronic music that derived inspiration from dancehall, hip hop, and jungle, hadn’t been popular in the music scene.
The creation of his channel and his method of immortalising music through videos came like timely rain in an approaching drought too, because back then the police had been attempting to shut down gigs with the controversial risk-assessment form 696.
Form 696 is a risk assessment form which the London Police requests promoters or licensees of events to complete and submit any occurring or planned events 14 days in advance in 21 Boroughs. It was controversial because it required the names, stage names, addresses, and numbers of all promoters, DJs, and artists to be listed. It even asked for targeted audiences, the likely ethnic demographic and the style of music.
To his delight, Grime came to thrive online; his YouTube Channel SBTV also became a leaping board for many well-known artists that we know today.
For example, Rappers Jaykae and Lady Leshurr attribute much of the success in their current music careers to him.
Even Ed Sheeran had gained popularity through one of Edwards’ trademark series on his YouTube Channel called A64, an acoustic spin-off of F64, which required artists to deliver 64 bars of new lyrics.
Other notable British musicians like Dave, Stormzy, Jessie J, Skepta, Rita Ora, and countless others have been featured on his YouTube channel too.
Given all that Edwards has done, his music and contributions have touched millions of lives.
Edwards’ Impact on the British Music Scene
Although Edwards had initially been reluctant to be the face of SBTV, he eventually thrived in his role, becoming a proponent of the British music scene in general.
In 2014, he received the Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) for music, which is the third highest ranking Order of the British Empire Award.
He was 24 that year.
When he received the award, he wrote a Facebook post that practically summarised his life and ethos: “I am over the moon to be honoured for my contributions to music, honest people anything is possible if you stay dedicated.
“I was forced to carve my own path, taking an untraditional route, part of a digital culture is rewriting the rules and breaking down the barriers.”
The introduction of his Facebook Page echoes the same sentiment:
“There are those who look at things and ask why. I’d say dream of things that never were and ask why not.”
Truthfully speaking, those are great words to live by.
Not only has his YouTube platform become an influential space for the world of Grime, but it has also given both young and mainstream artists the opportunity to share their music.
Besides that, he has always put in an active effort to speak out about the stigma regarding mental health in the music industry, even having a documentary dedicated to the topic.
Edwards was a philanthropist too, having been an ambassador for the Prince’s Trust, a youth charity run by Charles. He funded numerous youth centres as well.
Just recently, he openly spoke about his own anxiety and broke down the taboos of men’s mental health with The Guardian.
Responses to His Demise
After the news of his tragic passing broke out, the MOBO Awards, an annual British music award presentation honouring the achievements in “music of black origin”, said: “We are deeply saddened to learn of Jamal Edwards’ passing.
“As the founder of SBTV Online, his ground-breaking work and legacy in British music and culture will live on.
“Our hearts and thoughts are with his friends and family.”
Edwards had attended the Brits awards earlier this month and purportedly performed as a DJ in North London on Saturday night, just a day prior to his death.
And to the lives that Edwards had personally touched and lifted up, they have personally paid him tribute on social media as well.
Jaykae wrote, “I think I can speak for us all as artists and as supporters of [the] UK Grime/Rap scene when I say I owe this man so much! Helped me sometimes without even speaking of it. RIP Jamal Edwards, my guy man!!! Can’t believe I’m tweeting this. Legend. I love ya.”
Meanwhile, Lady Leshurr had been in tears, claiming, “So heartbreaking to hear the news of Jamal Edwards. Prayers to his family and loved ones nothing makes sense anymore.”
“Jamal Edwards was such a generous and inspiring person. Always gracious, he was a true pioneer. To have lived in a time…” Zane Lowes trailed off at the end, similarly at a loss of words for the abrupt passing of a wonderful and magnanimous person.
Rapper AJ Tracy also posted: “RIP Jamal Edwards, west London legend status.”
BAFTA-winning actor Adam Deacon spoke out on Twitter too: “Today I was on set when I found out the tragic news that my good friend Jamal Edwards had passed away and I’m honestly heartbroken. Hamal was one of the nicest, most down to earth and humble men I’ve met in this industry. He always gave me time even when no one else would.
“He was an inspiration and what he achieved in life was truly remarkable. Thinking of his friends and family at this devastating time. RIP Jamal Edwards.”
1/2 Today I was on set when I found out the tragic news that my good friend Jamal Edwards had passed away and I’m honestly heartbroken. Jamal was one of the nicest, most down to earth and humble men I’ve met in this industry. He always gave me time even when no one else would. pic.twitter.com/0ILKrIXtxH
— Adam Deacon (@realadamdeacon) February 20, 2022
Similarly, England and Chelsea football player Reece James offered his tribute, “Rest in peace, Jamal Edwards. I’m lost for words.”
Amelia Dimoldenberg, the founder of Chicken Shop Dates, called him “one of the most generous people I have ever met” and “someone who loved music and truly believed in all the joy it brings”.
She added, “You have shaped culture and changed the lives of others – never to be forgotten.”
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There has always been a saying that “a man only dies when he is forgotten”.
Jamal Edwards’ legacy will live on through them, engraved in memory, music, and history.
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