What Happened to Jamal Edwards? How Did He Die?
by Mathelene
Updated May 06, 2023
Who is Jamal Edwards?
Jamal Edwards MBE, born on August 24, 1990, is an English music entrepreneur, DJ, and the founder of the online R&B/Hip-Hop platform SB.TV. He was born in Luton, England, and later moved to Acton, West London, where he lived with his mother Brenda Edwards, stepfather Patrick, and younger sister Tanisha. Edwards' family hails from Saint Vincent and the Grenadines.
From a young age, Edwards had exposure to the entertainment industry through his mother, who achieved fourth place in the second series of The X Factor in 2005. While his mother encouraged him to pursue acting and drama, Edwards had a passion for the music industry. He attended Acton High School, where he enjoyed ICT and music subjects.
Despite struggling to attain the necessary grades for college, he eventually studied at Ealing Green College, part of West London College, and obtained a BTEC diploma in Media Moving Image. During his school years, Edwards began rapping and filming videos with his friends, which he uploaded to YouTube. These videos marked the beginning of SBTV. While running SBTV, Edwards worked at the retail chain Topman for four years to support himself financially.
SBTV, launched in 2006, is an online media platform that played a crucial role in discovering emerging artists. It has helped launch the careers of numerous musicians, including Ed Sheeran, Jessie J, Stormzy, and Emeli Sandé. The SBTV YouTube channel had amassed over one million subscribers as of 2019.
Initially focusing on grime dance music, Edwards expanded SBTV's content to include various musical genres. He filmed and featured artists such as Stormzy, Ed Sheeran, Dave, Emeli Sandé, Rita Ora, Krept & Konan, Yungen, Mic Righteous, Nines, Tori Kelly, Bugzy Malone, Mist, English Frank, Aaron Unknown, and Cadet. Edwards's work with SBTV caught the attention of rapper Dr. Dre, who invited him to film on a tour of Asia.
In 2016, SBTV collaborated with the youth-focused news service Press Association to expand into a mainstream multichannel video platform. Throughout his career, Edwards conducted interviews with notable stars, including Drake, Nicki Minaj, and Wiz Khalifa, becoming known for conducting the first online UK-based interviews with these artists. In recognition of his contributions to music, Jamal Edwards was awarded an MBE (Member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire).
What Happened to Jamal Edwards?
Jamal Edwards died suddenly from a heart attack in February 2022 after taking cocaine and drinking alcohol. Reports indicate that after Jamal Edwards collapsed, three small snap bags containing small traces of white powder were found on his person. Assistant West London Coroner Ivor Collett concluded that Edwards passed away due to a cardiac arrest induced by the consumption of cocaine and alcohol.
He sadly died on Sunday, February 20, 2022. Jamal's mother, Brenda Edwards, expressed her profound grief and described him as a "beautiful and selfless person." She emphasized that his love and legacy will endure, stating, "Long live Jamal Edwards MBE, MBA, Ph.D." Following the announcement of Jamal Edwards' passing, a wave of tributes poured in to honor his memory.
YouTube's official account acknowledged him as an inspiration who supported artists and influenced culture through SBTV. Renowned spoken word artist George the Poet expressed gratitude for Jamal's impact, crediting him for the success of many careers. London Mayor Sadiq Khan lamented the loss of one of British music and entertainment's brightest stars.
The Mobo Awards, via Twitter, expressed their deep sadness and recognized Jamal's groundbreaking contributions to British music and culture, assuring that his legacy will endure. They extended their condolences to his friends and family during this difficult time.
How did Jamal Edwards Die?
Jamal Edwards, a music entrepreneur and the founder of the music platform SBTV in 2006, passed away in February 2022 at the young age of 31. Edwards played a pivotal role in launching the career of renowned artist Ed Sheeran through SBTV. Jamal Edwards tragically passed away due to a cardiac arrhythmia caused by recreational drugs at his mother's home in Acton, London.
Initially, friends and family had stated that the cause of his death was a "sudden heart attack" or "sudden illness," without mentioning drugs. The day before his passing, Edwards had been DJing at a gig in north London. Following the announcement of his death, celebrities and prominent figures shared their statements in response.
Lady Leshurr, who had collaborated with Edwards on SBTV, expressed her heartbreak and highlighted his role in providing opportunities for talent from Birmingham to London. She emphasized the importance of keeping his name and brand alive. In August 2022, an inquest into Jamal Edwards' death confirmed that the cause was "cardiac arrhythmia, following cocaine use."
Cause of Death Jamal Edwards
Jamal Edwards, the founder of SBTV, sadly passed away on February 20, 2022, leaving his friends and family, including his mother Brenda, who is a star on Loose Women, devastated. An inquest conducted in August of that year revealed that Edwards died from a cardiac arrest following a late-night session involving cocaine and alcohol. On the night of his passing, Edwards exhibited signs of paranoia and began throwing objects around the room before losing consciousness.
Three small snap bags containing remnants of white powder were discovered on him after he collapsed at his home in west London. According to a friend named Mr. Hopper, Edwards initially appeared to be his normal self, and they engaged in conversation while smoking cannabis and drinking. However, Edwards later expressed feelings of pressure he was facing, and his behavior became erratic and paranoid, culminating in his collapse, as revealed during the inquest.
The police treated the death as non-suspicious, and the toxicology tests indicated the presence of cocaine and alcohol in Edwards' system. Cannabis was not detected, but there was evidence of recent MDMA use in his urine, suggesting that he had consumed the drug before to his death but not on the night itself.
Three small snap bags with remnants of a white powder, along with bloody tissues associated with drug use, were found in his pocket, as reported by Met Police Detective Sergeant Luke Taylor. It was concluded that Edwards suffered a cardiac episode resulting from the consumption of recreational drugs and alcohol.
While Edwards had traits of sickle cell disease, his GP confirmed that he was not on any regular medication. The presence of drug paraphernalia, along with the toxicology results, strongly suggested recent drug use. The implication is that Jamal had ingested a sufficient amount of cocaine, leading to an adverse reaction caused by cocaine toxicity, ultimately resulting in a cardiac arrhythmia and his subsequent passing.
Jamal Death Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran, a close friend of the late music entrepreneur Jamal Edwards, expressed his gratitude and support following Edwards' untimely passing from a cardiac arrest at the age of 31. Sheeran, whose rise to stardom was aided by Edwards, demonstrated his deep appreciation for their friendship. In an interview on Good Morning Britain, Edwards' mother Brenda, who is a host on the British TV show Loose Women, revealed that Sheeran had stayed at their house for an entire week after Jamal's death.
Brenda expressed her heartfelt appreciation, explaining that Sheeran took care of everything and provided invaluable assistance during that difficult time. She, along with her daughter Tanisha, expressed immense gratitude for Sheeran's unwavering support. The outpouring of love and support from everyone touched their hearts in indescribable ways. Brenda also mentioned being deeply moved by a freestyle rap released by Sheeran on social media as a tribute to Jamal.
She shared the clip on her Twitter account. The lyrics of the rap touched upon the loss and the profound impact Jamal had on their lives, with lines like "These tears won't let me talk about you. We should have known that we'd be lost without you." The bond between Sheeran and Jamal Edwards was strong, and Sheeran's willingness to offer his support during such a challenging time further demonstrated their deep friendship and mutual respect.
Jamal Edwards Wife
It is believed that Jamal Edwards did not have a girlfriend or partner at the time of his death. There is no evidence to suggest that he was married or publicly involved in a romantic relationship. Jamal Edwards grew up in the company of his mother Brenda Edwards, stepfather Patrick, and younger sister Tanisha. They formed a close-knit family unit throughout his upbringing.
Jamal Edwards Biography
Name
Jamal Edwards
Date of Birth
August 24, 1990
Date of Death
February 20, 2022
Profession
Music Entrepreneur, DJ
Nationality
British
Details
Specification
What happened to Jamal Edwards - FAQ
Jamal Edwards MBE was an English music entrepreneur, DJ, and the founder of the online R&B/Hip-Hop platform SB.TV.
Jamal Edwards sadly passed away on February 20, 2022, at the age of 31. He died from a heart attack caused by cocaine and alcohol consumption.
The cause of Jamal Edwards' death was a cardiac arrest induced by the consumption of cocaine and alcohol.
Sheeran stayed at Edwards' house for a week following his death, providing assistance and support to the grieving family.
It is not believed that Jamal Edwards had a girlfriend or partner at the time of his death.