Remembering Jamal Edwards: A legend who launched superstars like Stormzy, Ed Sheeran & others
Christmas gift!
A pioneering figure in the British rap and music industry, Jamal Edwards was raised in Acton, west London. He got into music at the age of 15 when his parents gave him a video camera for Christmas, which he used to record friends rapping.
Edwards told the BBC in 2014 that he started the YouTube channel after friends expressed frustration that they didn’t know how to get their music on MTV. “I was like, ‘I’ve got a camera for Christmas, I’m going to start filming people and uploading it,’” he said.
SmokeyBarz TV
In 2006, Jamal launched SBTV (SmokeyBarz TV) as an online platform for all the emerging talents. The channel which he founded from his bedroom at just 15, caught the attention of young British rap fans and gave early exposure and helped launch the careers of artists like Dave, Jessie J, Ed Sheeran and Skepta.
A big exposure
His hobby of recording and uploading videos on Youtube quickly turned into a viable business as the number of views in his videos begun to soar and enabled him earn revenues from the videos. “For me, SBTV was about creating as much exposure for the genre as possible, and that in turn helps be a part of the story – in terms of SBTV being a part of the UK music story, with grime, rap and hip-hop,” he told culture blog WhyNow in 2020.
Highest honor
In 2014, Edwards went to Buckingham Palace, the home of Britain’s royal family, to receive one of the country’s highest honours from Elizabeth II, for services to music through his business, SBTV.
“Most kids who come from where I come from would never believe they could go to Buckingham Palace in a million years,” Edwards told The Guardian newspaper in 2017. “Maybe seeing me do that will give them more self belief.”
A star
Edwards gave a platform to many artists before they became well-known worldwide fame. He has filed stars like 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.
Bestseller author
In 2013, Edwards released an ebook, 'Self Belief: The Vision: How To Be a Success on Your Own Terms'. His book achieved success and was the number 1 bestselling ebook series according to iBooks.
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