Lionel Barnes is Lionel B's real name. Lionel B founded Tight Grip Media, a music production company and record label, while attending IADT Tampa. He created music for Slip-n-Slide Records and other hip hop artists on it. He also produced an entire album for Lark Voorhies, who starred in the film Saved by the Bell. He created and designed an urban apparel line that was well-received by fans and celebrities alike. Later, he moved into the urban entertainment market, creating lighthearted and sarcastic YouTube videos. In 2018, his YouTube channel grew in popularity, thanks in part to his coverage of Nipsey Hussle's murder in Crenshaw and his ability to stay on top of other breaking news items. In 2018, he made a viral video about a feud between Jay-Z, Beyoncé, and Offset, which swiftly surpassed 6 million views on Youtube in just two months. He went on to earn millions of subscribers, making him the most popular Youtube celebrity blogger and the fastest-growing urban celebrity news channel in history. In just one year, he amassed over 300,000 subscribers. In an interview with Jay-longterm Z's former best friend Dehaven Irby, director of Marcy Made, he explored the facts surrounding rapper Jay-first Z's daughter La'Teasha Macer from Cambridge, Maryland, and broke the story on YouTube. His main YouTube channel has over 329k subscribers and has received over 82 million views as of July 2020. He also has a popular Instagram account with over 190,000 followers. Lionel B has a number of mobile apps. His first app, The Adventures Of Lionel B, was critically acclaimed when it was released in 2020, and his latest app, Lionel B On The Run, is currently in development. Lionel B went on the Lionel B Show in 2019 to raise attention to the non-working cameras that were there during Nipsey Hussle's terrible murder. He also chastised Nipsey Hussle's friend and coworker Cowboy for acting suspiciously during an interview at the Marathon Store after the rapper's murder. For The Love Of The Culture, Lyrical Expose, and the Most Valuable Game are three of Lionel B's shows on the live-streaming Fox Broadcasting Company-sponsored network app Caffeine. On the popular live fun music shows, he interviews celebrities. He's collaborated with Diamond ATL of the Crime Mob, Turk of the Hot Boys, Marc John Jefferies (Losing Isaiah, Get Rich or Die Trying, Notorious, Haunted Mansion) and others. He co-hosts the Most Valuable Gameshow alongside Jeremy Mincey, a former Dallas Cowboys captain.