Jamal Edwards has passed away, aged 31.
The BBC has confirmed that the music mogul died on Sunday morning (20 February). Edwards’ cause of death is unknown.
Edwards was born in Luton in 1990. He was an entrepreneur and the founder of SBTV – an influential rap channel that popularised grime and helped to launch the careers of artists such as Stormzy, Skepta and Dave. In 2014, he was awarded an MBE for his services to music. He was also an ambassador for the Prince’s Trust, a charity that helps young people to gain access to jobs, opportunities and education.
Artists such as AJ Tracey and Unknown T have shared tributes to Edwards online. Dave has posted an image of Edwards, thanking him “for everything”.
Thank you for everything🙏🏿❤️ words can’t explain pic.twitter.com/24zqPJoW5X
— SANTAN (@Santandave1) February 20, 2022
RIP Jamal Edwards, west london legend status ✊🏽👑💙
— 🥷🏽 (@ajtracey) February 20, 2022
Jamal Edwards. Fucking legend, RIP 🙏🏿🕊
— UNKNOWN T (@unknwnt9) February 20, 2022
I think I can speak for us all as artists and as supporters of 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.
— Jaykae (@Jaykae10) February 20, 2022
This day changed my life. You changed so many peoples lives. Powers were unmatched. True KING 👑👑👑 pic.twitter.com/f9Uw210se9
— Big Zuu (@ItsBigZuu) February 20, 2022
RIP Jamal Edwards. Giving God thanks that you did what he sent you to do ❤️ So many of us owe our careers to you bro. Thank you for everything pic.twitter.com/ZXkz1dqJvB
— George The Poet 🇺🇬 (@GeorgeThePoet) February 20, 2022
I’m in tears. So heartbreaking to hear the news of Jamal Edwards 💔💔💔 prayers to his family and loved ones nothing makes sense anymore 😞🙏🏾 @SBTVonline
— #CARMEN 💜💔 (@LadyLeshurr) February 20, 2022
There are so many of us that Jamal helped and put on. With no agenda. Just because he could.
He was and will always be at the heart of our culture. We are all heartbroken together.
Thank you Jamal. 🤍
— tiffany calver (@tiffanycalver) February 20, 2022
Update: (21 February) Brenda Edwards, mother to Jamal Edwards and a Loose Women panellist, shared a statement on her son today. The post states that Edwards passed away from a “sudden illness”. It reads: “Jamal was an inspiration to myself and so many. Our love for him lives on, his legacy lives on.”
After the devastating death of Jamal, our thoughts are with Brenda today. She’s sent us this message: pic.twitter.com/EZWH3b5tcX
— Loose Women (@loosewomen) February 21, 2022
