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.

Alongside racing driver Lewis Hamilton, actresses Nina Wadia and Lesley Manville, cinematographer Roger Deakins, and many others to receive the prestigious Order of the British Empire this year, Craig David was awarded an MBE (Member) and Colin Lester an OBE (Officer) for their outstanding contribution to the world of music. Lester himself was amongst the first people to congratulate David, proudly stating: “This is a remarkable achievement and so deserved – I am honoured not only to work with Craig but to also call him an amazing friend and confidante“.

I am so proud and thrilled that @craigdavid has been Honoured with an MBE in recognition of his incredible contribution to music. This is a remarkable achievement and so deserved – I am honoured not only to work with Craig but to also call him an amazing friend and confidante. pic.twitter.com/QaTFihKkJD

— Colin Lester (@ColinLester) December 30, 2020

Discovered and signed by Colin Lester to his label Wildstar, Craig David recently celebrated 20 years since the release of his critically acclaimed debut album Born To Do It on 14 August 2000. The album currently holds a 6-time platinum status in the UK and ended at #35 at the decade-end Official Album Chart in the UK (2000-2009). It set the beginning of a productive partnership and long-lasting friendship between the two, and kickstarted the singer’s sucessful career who went on to release 20 UK Top 40 singles and seven chart breaking albums.

Colin Lester has spent his entire career as artist manager of some of the most prolific music acts to emerge in the UK scene in the last few decades. Originally involved with Wildlife Entertainment, followed by Wildstar Records and most recently founding JEM Music in 2015, Lester is associated with the likes of the Brand New Heavies, Travis, Arctic Monkeys, Craig David, and many more. Additionally, he is on the board of trustees of the MOBO Charity and is connected to The ’45 Aid Society.

Alongside all of his artists’ achievements and sucessful record sales, Colin Lester has been awarded with many other prestigous awards, including “‘The Peter Grant Award’ for outstanding achievement from the UK’s Music Managers Forum (MMF) in 2002, the Gold Badge Award’ by BASCA (The British Academy of Songwriters , Composers and Authors’) for his work with UK songwriters in 2007 and the ‘Artist Loyalty Award’ for his longstanding relationship with Craig David at the 2016 A&R awards.” Craig David immediately returned the favour and congratulated his “manager, friend and business partner” for receiving the honourary OBE. 

Congratulations to my Manager, friend and business partner for being awarded an OBE for services to the music industry and charity, in the Queens New Year Honours list. I’m so happy for you @ColinLester ! xxx pic.twitter.com/tJYHRfqsti — Craig David (@CraigDavid) December 30, 2020

Late last evening, MusicWeek shared the full list of musicians and industry professionals to also receive the honour alongside David and Lester. Apache Indian and Yasin El Ashrafi received an MBE for outstanding services to young people, music and mentoring. Other recepients include conductors Jane Glover, Daniel Harding and Wayne Marshall, director Graham Vick, composer Julian Anderson, pianist Barry Douglas, cellist Natalie Clein, as well as Wasfi Kani from Grange Park Opera, Nigel Newton from Bloomsbury Publishing and also John Kirkpatrick for services to folk music.

Last year, Queen’s legendary drummer Roger Taylor was awarded the OBE in the New Year Honours of 2019.

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Lovely stuff. New album #E3AF out October 30th pre order link in bio.

A post shared by Dizzee Rascal (@dizzeerascal) on Oct 10, 2020 at 11:25am PDT

Dizzee took to his Instagram to comment on the award, saying ‘Lovely stuff’, and to remind followers that his highly anticipated new album E3AF is due for release on October 30th. Dizzee Rascal is no stranger to awards. His sensational debut album, Boy in da Corner, made him the youngest person ever to receive a Mercury Prize at 19 years old.

His contribution to the UK grime scene is unquestionable. Though his main achievement is surely bringing grime to the mainstream with Boy in da Corner, he also started Dirtee Stank Records in 2003 with a view to promoting promising artists with ‘social problems’ that might make major labels reluctant to take them on. Dirtee Stank has released several successful artists like Klass A and Newham Generals.

When Dizzee self produced his first single, aged 16, it was clear that he was operating in a different league from his musical contemporaries. I Luv U, with its glitchy beat, rapid cymbals and furious flow, put Dizzee on the map. The tonality of his voice here sounds like an instrument in itself, and his lyrics – although pretty derogatory by todays standards – feel entirely authentic.

This talent was first spotted by a music teacher at Langdon Park school, who was thanked in in the credits on Boy in da Corner‘s album sleeve. Dizzee wrote: ‘Special thanx to Mr. Smith, da best music teacher Langdon Park ever let go (you fools). I’ll never forget da way you kept the faith in me, even when things looked grim.’

Since then, Dizzee Rascal has released six albums, each one more innovative than the last. His most recent, Raskit, saw him ‘reclaim his crown’. It definitely signified a departure from the cocky lyricism of his earlier work, with tracks like Wot U Gonna Do? sounding like the concerns of an artist worried about fading into obscurity: ‘What you gonna do when they won’t play your records// And you don’t get booked ’cause your buzz is all gone’.

But Dizzee doesn’t have to worry about that. October 2nd release Body Loose, that sampled its beat from 2000’s garage classic Body Groove, was a catchy and inventive party-track and the rest of E3AF will be sure to deliver too. His MBE award is a well deserved reminder that the East London rapper is still very much relevant.

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Ello! A quick message from me as I have some personal news that I wanted to share with you… Last week, with the help of an amazing delivery team, Cherry gave birth to our beautiful and healthy daughter – Lyra Antarctica Seaborn Sheeran. We are completely in love with her. Both mum and baby are doing amazing and we are on cloud nine over here. We hope that you can respect our privacy at this time. Lots of love and I’ll see you when it’s time to come back, Ed x

A post shared by Ed Sheeran (@teddysphotos) on Sep 1, 2020 at 1:01am PDT

It is no secret that Sheeran thinks His Dark Materials by Philip Pullman is one of the ‘best books [he’s] ever read’. As a result fans are taking to Twitter to share theories that his daughter, Lyra Antarctica Seaborn Sheeran, is named after the novel’s feisty protagonist.

Sheeran and Seaborn, who got married last year, first met when they attended Thomas Mill High School together in Framlingham, Suffolk. Sheeran had a crush on the highly intelligent hockey player Cherry, but the romance was cut short when she left to attend Duke University in America.

They reconnected later during the phase of life when Sheeran was shying away from the public eye. In 2015 he was struggling to come to terms with his new celebrity status, choosing to take a year off music during which he ‘watched movies…order[ed] takeaways and put on a lot of weight’. Not the lifestyle you’d imagine for a bright young singer-songwriter.

Eventually he decided to do some travelling, and during this time rekindled his romance with childhood crush Cherry Seaborn. From there their love story went from strength to strength, largely out of the public eye. ‘I never really do anything too public anyway‘ he stated in an interview with Access when asked how he managed to ‘sneak’ in the marriage without his fans knowing.

Despite this secrecy, the couple appeared together in the music video for Sheeran’s collaboration with Ella Mai: Put It All On Me. The music video is a testament to Ed’s romantic sensibility, as it features a series of real-life couples dancing, with captions about their love stories at the bottom of the frame.

Alongside ‘Jeannie and Kamel’ who ‘married in 2017′ only to spend their first year as newlyweds ‘separated by the U.S. Immigration’ system are Ed and Cherry, dancing around their kitchen. Their caption reads: ‘Back in High School, Ed and Cherry were crushing hard// They made out at the castle on the hill… A few years ago they reconnected, there were fireworks… They got married in 2019′. Now Ed and Cherry can add the arrival of their baby girl Lyra to their love story!