Jamal Edwards’ company says he died Sunday morning.
Jamal Edwards received the MBE title in 2014. AOP
English entrepreneur and Youtube star Jamal Edwards has died at the age of 31 years. Edwards’ company is talking about it BBCto. The cause of Edwards’ death is unknown.
Edwards became known as the founder of SBTV. SBTV is an urban music-oriented music platform that has worked with a number of British music stars such as Ed Sheeranin, Jessie J:of, Stormzyn and Daven as a springboard for grooves.
He set up SBTV’s Youtube channel in 2006. He later said in interviews he had filmed his friends rapping and singing and he started uploading videos to Youtube for his other friends to see. Later, the channel evolved from a platform to find new emerging artists. Today, the channel has 1.22 million subscribers on Youtube.
– My videos initially received conflicting ratings. Some did not realize them, but others considered them sickly good. I started putting them on Youtube for everyone to see, and it just grew, Edwards told the BBC in a 2013 interview.
Edwards received membership in the Order of the British Empire (MBE) at the age of 24 in 2014 for his merits in the field of music. He also became an ambassador for the Prince of Trust, a charity for the Prince of Wales. The organization helps young people to set up their own businesses.
Edwards also founded the charity JE Delve, which provides learning and employment opportunities for young people in West London. He himself grew up in the area after moving with his family there from his hometown of Luton.
The story continues after the picture.
Edwards and the Prince of Wales Charles at the Prince’s Trust event. AOP
Edwards attended the Brit Awards gala earlier in February and was said to have performed a DJ gig in North London on Saturday night. No details have been published about his death other than that it happened on Sunday morning.
British artists of grime and rap music have remembered the pioneer of urban music on social media. The organizers of the Mobo Awards, among others, say on Twitter that they were broken by grief over Edwards’ death.
– As the founder of SBTV, his pioneering work and legacy in British music and culture continues to live on. Our hearts and thoughts are with his friends and family.
Mayor of London Sadiq Khan says on Twitter that British music and entertainment has lost one of its biggest stars.
London football team Chelsea remembered Edwards on Twitter.
– We are deeply saddened by the departure of Jamal Edwards. He was an inspiration to many and we are honored to have been part of the Chelsea family. Our thoughts are with all those who knew him and loved him.
Rapper Dave, whose career was of great importance to SBTV and Edwards, shared a picture of Edwards in the studio.
– Thanks for everything. Words are not enough to explain, Dave writes.
– Really humble and blessed soul. Your heritage lives on for years and you have inspired an entire generation. Rest in peace Jamal Edwards, writes the comedian who hosted the Brit Awards Mo Gilligan.