The avalanche of tributes to the legendary Jamal Edwards say it all.
They'll keep coming too. At just 31, the passing of the son of Loose Women panelist Brenda Edwards is simply heartbreaking.
He was an entrepreneur, a director, an author, a DJ and a designer. He was awarded an MBE in 2015 – at just 24 – for his work in music.
He started out in 2006 when he launched his online platform SBTV “on a £20 phone” while still at school.
Jamal would make the platform an online youth broadcasting colossus with his YouTube channel now boasting 1.2m subscribers and nearly a billion total views.
Yes, it is well documented that he launched the careers of artists such as Dave, Ed Sheehan, Jesse J and Stormzy. You’ll see and read a lot of that.
What you will hear less about is his tireless work to improve the lives of thousands of the young people who were not musical.
He worked to break down the stigmas around mental health. He encouraged young people to address theirs by discussing his. He helped to fund and refurbish youth centres. He didn’t despair at the politicians sitting on their hands and making promises they couldn’t keep. He focused on actually getting things done.
He lent his considerable ability to influence teenagers by supporting the Daily Mirror’s No Vote campaign ahead of the 2014 General Election. He convinced them of their power to change the things they can.
He was a man from humble beginnings. He had a job at clothing chain Topman to support himself financially as he built up SBTV.
His platform would become a home for young people denied the promotion of their material by the anachronistic Radio 1.
If you’ve never heard of Jamal Edwards it is because he is from a younger generation that gave up on the mainstream years ago and used their own vision to build their success.
He in particular reached down to help others who needed that all-important leg up.
So as the tributes pour in from the likes of Chelsea and England footballer, Reece James, comedian Mo Gilligan, singer songwriter Rita Ora and TV and radio presenter Fearne Cotton, you get a sense of the impact Jamal has had across the spectrum.
He was an ordinary, charismatic guy doing extraordinary things. He was a doer, not a talker. He was a pioneering figure not just in Black British culture but in our media culture full stop.
His legacy is incalculable. His passing is simply heartbreaking. Our thoughts are with his mum Brenda and entire family.
