Jamal Edwards, Pioneering Music Entrepreneur, Dead at 31
Toyin Owoseje
2/21/2022 2:16:14 PM
Toyin Owoseje wrote this article in CNN:
Jamal Edwards, a music entrepreneur best known for founding media platform SBTV, has died at the age of 31.
His mother confirmed Monday that her "beautiful" and "inspirational" son died on Sunday morning from a "sudden illness."
Brenda Edwards, who is a panelist on British TV talk show "Loose Women," paid an emotional tribute to her son in a statement shared on the show's social media accounts, saying she and her family are "devastated."
"It is with the deepest heartache that I confirm that my beautiful son Jamal Edwards passed away yesterday morning after a sudden illness. Myself, his sister Tanisha and the rest of his family and friends are completely devastated. He was the center of our world," the statement read.
She continued: "As we come to terms with his passing we ask for privacy to grieve this unimaginable loss. I would like to thank everyone for their messages of love and support. Jamal was an inspiration to myself and so many. Our love for him lives on, his legacy lives on. Long live Jamal Edwards MBE, MBA and PHD."
Edwards was a pioneering figure in British rap and grime music. Raised in Acton, west London, he got into the music scene at the age of 15 when his parents gave him a video camera for Christmas.
In 2006, he launched SBTV (SmokeyBarz TV) as an online platform to showcase emerging artists. He gave early exposure and helped launch the careers of artists like Dave, Jessie J, Ed Sheeran and Skepta.
The SBTV YouTube channel now boasts 1.2 million subscribers and nearly 1 billion total views.
Jamal Edwards, a music entrepreneur best known for founding media platform SBTV, has died at the age of 31.
His mother confirmed Monday that her "beautiful" and "inspirational" son died on Sunday morning from a "sudden illness."
Brenda Edwards, who is a panelist on British TV talk show "Loose Women," paid an emotional tribute to her son in a statement shared on the show's social media accounts, saying she and her family are "devastated."
"It is with the deepest heartache that I confirm that my beautiful son Jamal Edwards passed away yesterday morning after a sudden illness. Myself, his sister Tanisha and the rest of his family and friends are completely devastated. He was the center of our world," the statement read.
She continued: "As we come to terms with his passing we ask for privacy to grieve this unimaginable loss. I would like to thank everyone for their messages of love and support. Jamal was an inspiration to myself and so many. Our love for him lives on, his legacy lives on. Long live Jamal Edwards MBE, MBA and PHD."
Edwards was a pioneering figure in British rap and grime music. Raised in Acton, west London, he got into the music scene at the age of 15 when his parents gave him a video camera for Christmas.
In 2006, he launched SBTV (SmokeyBarz TV) as an online platform to showcase emerging artists. He gave early exposure and helped launch the careers of artists like Dave, Jessie J, Ed Sheeran and Skepta.
The SBTV YouTube channel now boasts 1.2 million subscribers and nearly 1 billion total views.