For Justin Laboy, it’s all about ownership.
Laboy was raised as the youngest of five siblings in Queens, NY, and his lived experience made him competitive and highly motivated, he shared in an interview with AFROTECH™. He admitted he didn’t have much growing up, but sports became his roadmap to opportunity. He played basketball at a private high school and later at ASA College during the 2011–2012 season before a brief stint with KK Pelister Bitola Basketball Club in Macedonia.
When Laboy returned home from playing overseas, he began promoting parties at New York nightclubs that often sold out. He was making several thousand dollars a week and learning the ropes of marketing in the process, he told AFROTECH™.
“To get people to an event is difficult … I was able to convince people to do that … I’m really good at gathering people and starting conversations,” he noted.
Revolt
Being a gatherer also translated into his online presence. In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, Laboy shared that he had to pivot due to widespread shutdowns. He launched an Instagram Live series that went viral alongside Justin Combs. He also went on to popularize the term “Respectfully,” hashtagging it when posting content, and launched a viral meme page.
In 2021, Laboy launched a late-night show, “Respectfully Justin,” on Revolt TV with Combs, which ran for one season encompassing 10 episodes. He told AFROTECH™ that his time at Revolt turned him from someone who was “just a viral content creator” into a “real journalist.”
“It went from like posting jokes to my own TV show … I had a real TV show named after me. That doesn’t happen every day today,” he expressed.
Laboy claimed he was one of the highest-paid individuals at Revolt at the time, which he attributed to delusional confidence during negotiations. The expectation was for two or three seasons with Revolt. However, he parted ways with the platform because he didn’t want to be married to the “high of the moment,” he told AFROTECH™.
Ownership
Laboy shared that he was guided by an overarching conviction that he was meant to be a cultural leader. He said it was never just about a viral show or running a meme page. It was about longevity and ownership.
Today, he stands behind a growing, independently run and self-funded media empire. Laboy hosts “The Download,” a series that launched with Ye as its inaugural guest and went on to become the most-viewed episode across all shows on his network, he shared.
Laboy views Ye as a mentor, brother, and best friend and noted Ye has often preached to him about the importance of ownership.
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Respectfully Radio
Laboy also hosts “Respectfully The Justin Laboy Show,” which has featured Jim Jones, G Herbo, Claressa Shields, Coi Leray, and more. A newcomer is “Respectfully Radio,” a freestyle platform that is intended to mirror a “modern-day BET Rap City: The Basement,” according to information shared with AFROTECH™. Laboy aims to change how radio is consumed moving forward, taking it a step further by stating that the goal is to go even further than traditional radio. “Respectfully Radio” will include Laboy’s own commentary and perspectives on current events, as well as his viewpoints on life and more.
“I feel like outta everybody that shares my stuff and being shared in my pages being viewed over 2 billion times a month, people haven’t really gotten a chance to get closer to Justin Laboy,” he said.
Listeners can also expect a range of guests, as he intends the radio show to serve as a bridge to educate people in music and beyond. This could include poets, journalists, executives, artists, and more, he shared. There will also be live performances and a hotline to help listeners stay more engaged.
What’s more, Laboy is doing this all from a studio, which has expanded from New York to Los Angeles.
He is supported by an all-Black, team-led staff he employs, including family and friends, as well.
“Don’t just go viral, build equity, turn attention into assets, and I really want more creators to know how to evolve and be ready for that moment. Definitely own yourself and own your ideas,” he said.
Laboy owns the studio and owns the IP for “Respectfully The Justin Laboy Show,” “Respectfully Radio,” and “The Download,” among other areas related to his brand.
Aiming For 100 Episodes In 2026
Looking ahead, Laboy will be releasing two episodes per week across both “Respectfully The Justin Laboy Show” and “Respectfully Radio.” “The Download” drops annually and will feature only Ye as a guest, who helped conceptualize the show.
“Everyone who loves him, supports him, or just misunderstands him can come to get the latest download on Justin Laboy and Ye,” Laboy said.
He wants to position his empire to produce the top shows globally and be the best in his industry across the board, he noted. The goal is to surpass 100 episodes in 2026.
“We’ve had our moments, we’ve had our fun, we’ve had our toxic, but I think this is the moment where everybody gets to see the evolving Justin Laboy and consistency is the strategy, and building just real archives of cultural conversations,” he said.
