Jamal Edwards MBE
West London / ACM · SBTV
A Teenager With a Camera Who Changed British Music Forever
20 March 2026
Jamal Edwards started SBTV at 15 in 2006, filming grime MCs in Acton, West London with a handheld camera and uploading to YouTube. Mainstream media was ignoring UK urban music entirely.
Discovering Talent
Edwards had an extraordinary eye — he was among the first to feature Ed Sheeran, filming acoustic sessions before the music industry noticed him. He also showcased early performances by Dave, Jessie J, and Skepta.
Building a Media Empire
By his late teens, SBTV was a legitimate media company with major brand deals. He was awarded an MBE in 2014 at just 24 for services to music.
Lasting Legacy
Edwards tragically passed away in February 2022 aged 31. He proved that a young person with a camera and YouTube could reshape an entire industry, taking grime from underground to global mainstream.
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