He was the founder of SBTV, an online urban music platform that helped artists such as Dave, Ed Sheeran and Jessie J come to prominence.

Stars including Idris Elba, Rita Ora, Dua Lipa, AJ Tracey and Trevor Nelson, as well as Dave, are among the many who have paid tribute to an "inspiration".

The son of Loose Women panellist Brenda Edwards, Edwards grew up on a council estate in Acton, west London, according to the Prince's Trust.

'His legacy lives on'

Paying tribute to her son, Brenda Edwards said: "It is with the deepest heartache that I confirm that my beautiful son Jamal Edwards passed away yesterday morning after a sudden illness. Myself, his sister Tanisha, and the rest of his family and friends are completely devastated. He was the centre of our world.

"As we come to terms with his passing, we asked for privacy to grieve this unimaginable loss. I would like to thank everyone for their messages of love and support. Jamal was an inspiration to myself and so many. Our love for him lives on, his legacy lives on. Long live Jamal Edwards MBE, MBA, PhD."

"Thank you for everything. Words can't explain," rapper Dave wrote on Twitter in tribute, while fellow British music star AJ Tracey said: "RIP Jamal Edwards, west London legend status."

Sharing a message on Instagram Stories, singer Dua Lipa said she was "heartbroken" to hear the news of his death and that he had "gone way too soon", while Rita Ora thanked Edwards for the "belief you had in me and so many of us before we even believed in ourselves".

A representatives for the MOBO Awards also paid tribute, saying: "As the founder of SBTVonline, his groundbreaking work and legacy in British music and culture will live on. Our hearts and thoughts are with his friends and family."

Read more: It all started in his bedroom: How SBTV founder Jamal Edwards changed the UK music scene

Born in Luton, Edwards was appointed an MBE for services to music in 2014 and was an ambassador for the Prince's Trust, which helps young people set up their own businesses.

He attended the Brit Awards earlier this month and reportedly performed as a DJ at a gig in north London on Saturday night.

A representative said he died on Sunday morning but no other details have been released.

A tweet from the Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall's Clarence House Twitter account said Edwards was "an inspiration to so many".

The Prince's Trust described Jamal as an "incredible innovator and entrepreneur", adding in a tweet that he had "been an inspiration for so many young people, through our work and beyond. Our thoughts are with his family."

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Edwards was a teenager when he started SBTV to upload clips he recorded of his friends performing on the estate, and grew the YouTube channel into a multimillion-pound online youth broadcaster.

SBTV has made music videos with popular artists such as Nicki Minaj, gaining more than 1.2 million subscribers.

'Anything is possible if you stay dedicated'

When Edwards received his MBE at the age of 24, he wrote on Facebook: "Never in a million years did I ever think I would receive such an accolade.

"For me this is about us the YOUTH, with so much negativity around us it's hard sometimes to stay positive and fight for your dreams."

He said he worked in retail for four years while he was starting his YouTube channel and encouraged young people to "invest" in themselves to build a better life.

He added: "I am over the moon to be honoured for my contributions to music, honestly people anything is possible if you stay dedicated.

"I was forced to carve my own path, taking an untraditional route, part of a digital culture rewriting the rules and breaking down barriers."

In true entrepreneurial spirit, the introduction to his Facebook page reads: "There are those who look at things and ask why. I'd say dream of things that never were and ask why not."

Edwards 'changed the lives of others'

Tributes started pouring in as the news of his death broke.

Amelia Dimoldenberg, the creator of the Chicken Shop Dates dating series, called him "one of the most generous people I have ever met" and "someone who loved music and truly believed in all the joy it brings".

"You have shaped culture and changed the lives of others - never to be forgotten," she said.

Premier League footballer Reece James said he was "lost for words".

The official BAFTA Twitter account also shared a tribute, describing Edwards as someone who was "always so generous in sharing his advice and insights with the next generation of talent at BAFTA".

Tributes also extended beyond the entertainment landscape, with Chelsea FC and several of its players paying respects to the Blues fan.

In the world of politics, former prime minister David Cameron and Labour MP for Tottenham David Lammy also shared tributes, with Mr Cameron saying Edwards showed what was possible "with hard work & determination".