In 2014 Edwards assisted the launch of the Queen’s Young leaders Programme and actively worked to raise awareness surrounding mental health, on one occasion opening up to Music Week “Anxiety comes over me at the most random times. I wanted to create awareness. As much music is my entry point, I feel a responsibility to talk about these other issues.” Edwards was extremely active in the bettering of young people’s mental health, collaborating with the mental health charity CALM.

 As the unfortunate news surfaced concerning his death on the 20^th  February 2022 many artists and public figures came forward, to express their sadness and gratitude to his contributions. Lady Leshurr, the Birmingham native musician, who had worked closely with Edwards said it was “heart-breaking” to hear the news, as he “gave opportunity after opportunity to showcase talent from Brum to London. We need to keep his name alive.” 

King Charles III the founder of The Princes Trust stated, “His work in music but also as an ambassador for a new generation, including his work for The Princes Trust, were an inspiration to so many.” Brenda Edwards plans to keep making young people feel empowered by continuing her son’s legacy. The Jamal Edwards Self Belief Trust held a fundraising event and raised over 100,000. The gala was hosted by Terry Crews and featured performances from Ed Sheeran, Jessie Ware and Max Cyrus along with a surprise performance from Lewis Capaldi.

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

As Brenda speaks on the impact of supporting the youth she says, “I think I can sum it up in two words- self-belief- and that’s what this is all about.” She recounts an instance where Jamal had reiterated, she should have self-belief when she was previously battling cancer, as she said he told her “Mommy have some self-belief” she continued to say “- and that’s what we need to get out of young people for them to remember, because the young people are the future of tomorrow and it’s important for me to give them that platform so they can feel empowered.” The Jamal Edwards Self Belief Trust is currently developing a scholarship programme and back to work scheme for young people facing homelessness in partnership with Centrepoint the leading youth homelessness charity in the UK.

The entrepreneur first started filming UK rap talent aged 15 when he received a camera from his mother as a birthday gift, Jamal went on to help create and build some of the biggest names in the UK music industry including Krept and Konan, Big Zuu, and Ed Sheeran. The man was a trailblazer for the UK hip hop scene and was loved and respected by a number of artists and people within the UK music industry, following his passing a number of artists took to social media to reflect on the 31-year-old pioneer.

AJ Tracey took to Twitter, tweeting “RIP Jamal Edwards, west London legend status”

RIP Jamal Edwards, west london legend status

— (@ajtracey) February 20, 2022

Mo the comedian tweeted “A truly humble and blessed soul. Your legacy will live on for years & you’ve inspired a whole generation. Rest easy Jamal Edwards”

A truly humble and blessed soul. Your legacy will live on for years & you’ve inspired a whole generation. Rest easy Jamal Edwards ❤️

— Mo Gilligan (@MoTheComedian) February 20, 2022

And Hardy Caprio tweeted,“Saving one life is something to be proud of. Saving multiple is something to be celebrated for. Here is a man who saved all of our lives whether you were watching his vids or an artist he gave opportunity. R.I.P Jamal Edwards. Those good deeds will always follow you”

Saving one life is something to be proud of. Saving multiple is something to be celebrated for.

Here is a man who saved all of our lives whether you were watching his vids or an artist he gave opportunity. R.I.P Jamal Edwards. Those good deeds will always follow you. pic.twitter.com/Gc2eIM10DG — hardy caprio (@HardyCaprio) February 20, 2022

At only 31, Jamal Edwards has left a legacy that will live on longer than those who mourn him today. Receiving an MBE aged 24 for his work in music, being made ambassador for the youth charity princess trust in 2013 aged 21, Forbes 30 under 30 aged 25, and most recently appointed entrepreneur in residence at the University of Sussex. Jamal’s accolades stretch further than this, with these being just a few of his biggest achievements.

Musically, the founder of SBTV helped artists such as Ed Sheeran with his freestyle platforms A64 and F64, which saw a legendary acoustic performance of Ed Sheeran classic track “You Need Me, I Don’t Need You”. The relationship went from strength to strength and in recent times Jamal has helped Ed Sheeran link up with the likes of Kwengface, Tion Wayne, Central Cee, Fumez the engineer and Fireboy DML. 

Jamal Edwards will go down as a UK legend not only for what he has done for UK music but for Black British culture as well, with the 31-year-old truly being a trailblazer in his field motivating and inspiring thousands of people to follow their dreams and create spaces for communities that didn’t have these platforms. At the end of last year, a mural of the young entrepreneur was put up in his home town of Acton, it now stands to immortalise the West London legend.

Rest in peace Jamal Edwards 24.08.1990 – 20.02.2022.

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A post shared by 8BARS – Talent Discovery App (@8barsapp)

The platform hosts clashes between interested artists and singers and allows viewers to vote for winners. The platform asks talent to pick a beat, record and upload their bars and get involved in multiple weekly events. The artists can clash with each other on the platform with the winner voted by the viewers and collecting stacks which can help them climb the leaderboards which will help them win prizes and grow their following. The clashes are created by the artists with the winner then going on to pick their opponents on the app’s homepage.

The platform has only just been launched but has outlined its rules on the app and on their Instagram page. The rules on the app are listed as; you must be 13+ to play on the app, do not copyright content including music, lyrics or images, Do not post, gore, nudity or illegal content and applies to video submissions as well as profile pictures, Don’t be rude (racism, discrimination and sexism is not tolerated), Clashing with other user is encourage but excessive bullying is not, no impersonations (Do not pretend to be someone else with the intention of misleading others), Do not post videos with the sole purpose of advertising a brand, product or event, do not make multiple or fake accounts in order to game the competition. 8bars has the right to disqualify anybody breaking these conditions in or outside the application.

The prizes that have already been advertised on the app include a day in the studio with producer Gotcha, who has produced for artists such as Jack Harlow, Russ, Tion Wayne, Ardee and Unknown T. As well as a music video produced by SBTV founder Jamal Edwards.

The groundbreaking application prides itself on democratising the process of talent development and discovery. The founder Jamal Edwards said this in the caption when announcing the app “Been working on this for a while now. The future of talent discovery and development in music is here. Let’s build this together.”