To mark the anniversary of the death of Thames Hero Folajimi Olubunmi-Adewole – fondly known as Jimi to his friends and family – BBC Newsbeat is interviewing his close friends as Radio 1Xtra becomes the first UK radio station to play one of his tracks.

20 year-old Jimi lost his life after jumping in the River Thames in central London to rescue a woman on April 24th 2021. His heroic act led to a number of tributes, with singer Dua Lipa dedicating her Brit award for Album of the Year to Jimi at the 2021 awards in May of last year.

A track from his upcoming posthumous EP, ‘I Let You Know’ is receiving its first broadcast on UK airwaves on Radio 1Xtra’s The 1Xtra Breakfast Show with Nadia Jae. It is the debut single from Jimi under his stage name J Stizz 167 and features drill artists Psychs and C4 Muni.

Newsbeat interviews Jimi’s best friend Bernard and close friend Qudus Olatoye, also known as 4ORTY, who is a music producer and artist manager from South Bermondsey. For the past year, both have worked on editing Jimi’s music to create the EP and share their excitement at the single being aired on Radio 1Xtra.

Speaking to Radio 1Xtra, 4ORTY recalls their early sessions working on music together. Speaking of his short career, he says Jimi “was actually starting to develop as an artist” before the tragic incident.

Bernard describes his music “as an access point to be close to him”, and the project as “a foundation for Jimi and something that will live beyond us.”

Charlotte Simpson, BBC Newsbeat journalist says: “Jimi’s friends have dedicated themselves to making sure his legacy lives on for years to come, and have used his music as a way to process the tragedy.

“To channel their energy into something so positive is so heart-warming and makes for a beautiful tribute one year on from his death.”

The full report airs on BBC Newsbeat on Monday 25th April at 12.45pm and 5.45pm on Radio 1, Radio 1Xtra and BBC Asian Network, as well as a short film on BBC Breakfast (6.00am – 9.00am). The single, ‘I Let You Know’ and interview with Nadia Jae airs on Radio 1Xtra’s The 1Xtra Breakfast Show with Nadia Jae (6.00am – 10.00am) on Monday 25th April.