Scoop B Radio stands as a testament to independent media success, charting an unconventional path from archived audio tapes to a globally distributed platform. Co-founded by Brandon “Scoop B” Robinson and Emmanuel “DJ Manny El” Grant, the entity has established itself as a credible source for content spanning sports, culture, and lifestyle.
Origin Story: Tapes, Basements, and Harlem Strategy
The foundation of Scoop B Radio is literally rooted in nostalgia. The concept was first strategized in 2013 on 125th Street in Harlem, New York, shortly after Robinson’s appearance on Sirius/XM NBA Radio. Robinson and Grant sought to create a media platform focused on diverse topics including sports, art, fashion, and travel.
The earliest content for the network came from a digital archive of “rare and unreleased interviews” from Robinson’s decades-long career, which began with his first radio show in 1997. These original tapes were rediscovered in Robinson’s bedroom at his parent’s home in West Orange, New Jersey.
The production environment for the show was similarly grassroots:
- Television and podcast portions were shot and edited in locations including Robinson’s grandmother’s basement in Jersey City, New Jersey, Lehman College, Grant’s family’s home in Brooklyn, and the College of State Island in Staten Island, New York.
- The business and content strategy was continually refined during brainstorm sessions in Yonkers, the Bronx, CBS Network in Manhattan, Montclair State University in New Jersey, and the New Jersey Orators headquarters in Piscataway.
Early Shows and The Launch
In 2013, before Scoop B Radio officially began, Robinson hosted Scoop B & Bishop with New York radio personality Randy Bishop. The show covered subjects like boxing, wrestling, football, and popular 90s sitcoms like Fresh Prince of Bel Air.
After a period working at MaxPreps and The Source Magazine, Robinson returned to CBS as a columnist, show producer, and contributor to CBS This Morning. It was during this time that he and Grant soft-launched the Scoop B Radio Network in 2015.
The first official episode soft-launched in the spring of 2016 and featured a piece of “Vault Content”: a 1997 interview Robinson conducted with former NBA veteran J.R. Reid. This interview, along with others featuring figures like Kendall Gill, Jayson Williams, and Dikembe Mutombo, had been found in a sneaker box in Robinson’s childhood home.
Viral Content and Star-Powered Interviews
Following the launch, the platform quickly transitioned to current, viral-making content. Interviews with former NBA veteran Tim Thomas, NBA Champion Kenny “The Jet” Smith, rapper Too $hort, and broadcaster Ros Gold-Onwude generated significant buzz.
From 2016 to 2019, Scoop B Radio’s dialogues regularly became viral news segments picked up by platforms like ESPN, Bleacher Report, and Uproxx.
The platform has hosted an expansive list of high-profile guests, including:
- NBA legends Shaquille O’Neal and Charles Barkley.
- Entrepreneurs and public figures like Mark Cuban, Don Lemon, and former Governor Jesse “The Body” Ventura.
- Music icons DJ Khaled, Ice Cube (founder of the BIG3), Jim Jones, and the original American female voice of Siri, Susan Bennett.
- Sports personalities Pete Sampras, Val Ackerman (WNBA President/Big East Commissioner), Stephon Marbury, and Michael Vick.
- Civil rights leader Rev. Jesse Jackson and sports marketing executive Sonny Vaccaro.
Global Reach and Digital Expansion
Between 2020 and 2023, the platform secured major digital partnerships with brands such as Zenni, Adidas, Nutella, Starter, and NBA 2K.
Scoop B Radio’s content is available to a global audience via major podcast platforms (Acast, Amazon, Apple, Spotify) and YouTube. For television viewers, the content is available globally on DirecTV, and locally on Verizon FIOS across New York City, New Jersey, and Connecticut.
Multifaceted Future (2023-Present)
The platform continues its expansion, moving into a true multifaceted media entity:
- 2023: Scoop B Selects & Classics With Scoop B: Launched as original interview series, Scoop B Selects features intimate, unfiltered conversations and has partnered with organizations like the NBA Retired Players Association (NBRPA) and the BIG3 Basketball League. Classics With Scoop B (a collaboration with Starter) expands the focus to hip-hop and culture.
- 2024: Scoop B Blog: Robinson launches this digital extension focusing on culture, lifestyle, and sports.
- 2025: Scoop B Originals: This launch features the flagship documentary, “The Freezeout,” which dissects the controversial 1985 NBA All-Star Game with exclusive testimony from key figures like Isiah Thomas, Dominique Wilkins, and John Salley.
The documentary, which takes a deep dive into the alleged “freezeout” of Michael Jordan, underscores the platform’s commitment to investigative digital storytelling and shaping cultural narratives.You can learn more about the Scoop B Radio founder’s work in this video: Monica Makes It Happen: Brandon “Scoop B” Robinson. This video features an interview with Brandon “Scoop B” Robinson about his company and podcast, Scoop B Radio, and his tips for success.
