Rob Redding

Rob Redding Biography

"The voice of the voiceless" and "the prophet of rage" are just some of the things his subscription-paying listeners say about "America's Independent Voice" Professor Rob Redding.

Redding is well-regarded by scores of the world's most intelligent subscription-paying listeners (living in 24 states) due to his bold views on "Redding News Review Unrestricted" talk show via his 24-7 news site, ReddingNewsReview.com.

These subscribers get "Redding News Review Unrestricted” because he has been the most listened to black independent talk show host in the country for years. He has been heard six days a week for nearly half a decade and more than 420 episodes in all 50 states (via SiriusXM Satellite Radio and via syndication) for more than 6 years and 3,600 hours. Finally, they get "Redding News Review Unrestricted" because his reports and positions on issues have been continually nationally recognized and award-winning.

Because of his listeners, "Redding News Review Unrestricted" is now shaking up the talk radio industry with daily broadcasts from ReddingNewsReview.com. ReddingNewsReview.com is his award-winning subscriber-supported and the Web's oldest black news aggregation Website. Called a "clearinghouse for African American news" by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution newspaper and the "vanguard of Internet news sites’" (AllAccess.com). ReddingNewsReview.com has garnered three consecutive "Black Web Awards".

By 2018, Radio Online heralded a milestone for "Redding News Review Unrestricted," celebrating its 1000th episode and noting that Rob Redding "has established an impressive base for his show across the U.S. as ‘America’s Independent Voice.’" Fast forward to 2024, and Urban Insite proclaimed that he is “dominating Black news online with his podcast ‘Redding News Review Unrestricted’” after reaching his 2000th episode.

He has also won other top honors, including a gold American Advertising Award and an Associated Press award for Internet news.  Talkers’ magazine in 2003 noted his uniquely independent views on government by listing him as one of the "100 Most Important Radio Talk Hosts in America."

Public Intellectual

Redding, who is an inductee of Marquis Who’s Who in America 2023, has been quoted in nearly every major news publication and electronic outlet multiple times.

In 2023, he was featured in The Associated Press and over 1,700 member newspapers and 5,500 member television and radio stations for speaking out on COINTELPRO. “As a Black man in America, as someone who speaks out about the government all the time, I understand that Black people and especially Black leadership cannot trust America," Redding said.

In 2022, he was featured in The Washington Post for his take on the Jan. 6, 2021 political riot in Washington, D.C. He told the newspaper: The rioters were attempting to “subvert American democracy because now it’s becoming equal for all people.” He also spoke out to The Associated Press about misinformation is increasing political extremism. “This is not a sustainable course”…“People are in such denial about how dangerous and divisive this situation is.”

In 2019, he was featured in The New York Times as one of just 526 participants to represent America at “America in One Room.” That same year Castropolis called him “one of the most important Black Voices in America today.”

In 2017, the show won an award from the Society for the Advancement of American Philosophy’s Alain Locke Award for its segment by Dr. Tommy Curry on "Killing Whites." He has been subsequently featured in the Guardian newspaper as a result.

Furthermore, Redding has been called one of the most "respected names in the media," by urban magazine Upscale and "one of the most intellectual and intriguing radio talk show hosts," by urban industry authority Radio Facts. The publication has gone on to say Redding is “incredibly intelligent and talented radio talk show host…he is a rolling stone who is not afraid to tackle some of the ‘uncomfortable’ issues in the black community.” Rolling Out magazine said Redding has an "unequivocal message of hope, accountability, and astute political analysis." Consciousness Magazine agreed in its cover story: “Expressing opinions is what radio talk show host, political commentator and bestselling author Robert “Rob” Redding does well with confidence and ease.”

He became one of the few, if not only, black program directors of a mainstream talk radio station, KMLB-AM in Monroe, Louisiana (August 2009 to August 2010). Around that same time, he was the narrator for the film "Stay Brady Stay", which was screened at numerous movie festivals and aired on Louisiana Public Broadcasting for three years. Redding is the founder of BlackTalkers.com, a Website covering the black talk radio community. He has also been a frequent guest on the Fox News Channel, National Public Radio and C-SPAN. He has been quoted in some of the world's top newspapers – from France's Libération to the Washington Post and Politico newspapers.

Redding occasionally accepts invitations for TV appearances and has also appeared in other people's written works. Redding has written plenty of articles outside of ReddingNewsReview.com. He spent three years as a political reporter at the Washington Times and other publications. (He previously worked at the Macon Telegraph, the Prince George’s Journal, the Prince George’s Gazette, and the Prince George’s Sentinel.) He left The Times to diversify his politically independent résumé to become the communications director for a major Democratic campaign.

Author

This prolific writer has authored 10 No.1 books out of 16 consecutive bestselling books, two best selling albums and a bestselling diet guide.

“Ritual” is Redding’s most recent No. 1 Best Selling book on Amazon is called “profound” and “ground breaking” by Consciousness Magazine. It is his seven consecutive No. 1 book and nine overall No. 1 out of 16 books. It was released on Halloween 2024. The book is a critique of the church’s role in society and its entanglement with politics. It offers up a theory of Ritualmination. This concept offers a critical examination of ritual practices, advocating for their reformation to ensure they remain relevant in today's society. The book resonates deeply with readers concerned about social justice and contemporary values.

“Unquotable” is another of Redding’s No. 1 Best Selling books on Amazon. It is his sixth consecutive No. 1 book and eighth overall No. 1. It was released on September 1, 2023. The book contains more than a dozen poems and dozens of epigrams. The new book includes writings from his books “Unthinkable” (2014) and the epigrams from his No. 1 book “The Professor” (2019). New York Black Star News said: “Unquotable is filled with powerful illustrations created by Redding, while his witty writings unravel issues of race, class, politics and sexuality.”

“Africa: How it can save the world” is also Redding’s No. 1 Best Selling book on Amazon. It is his fifth consecutive No. 1 book and seventh overall No. 1. It was released exclusively to his subscribers on Feb. 14, 2023 and on Amazon.com for free on March 1. The book presents the Continent as an urgent solution to a world being plunged into nuclear war. The book details negative views of the Continent by reprising how it is linked to the soul of humanity utilizing Borigination theory.

"SMEARED" was released on Jan. 13, 2023. The book is a tell-all that introduces a new school of painting called “Constructive Expressionism." The book was Redding's thesis while studying at Pratt Institute prior to obtaining his MFA from the top art school. The book was No. 1 in the coveted "New Releases in Art Reference" and "New Releases in Art Study & Teaching" categories.

''Target: Unwrapping Racism'' was released on Sept. 1. The book, which is a literary reader on dissecting racism, includes previous writings from two books on bigotry while introducing Visual Geographic Grounding Theory. The book which the newspaper "Black Star News" said "rips away the veil hiding the genesis of racism" peaked at No. 1 on Amazon's "Hot New Releases" in the "One-Hour Biography & Memoir Short Reads" and "Reference & Collections of Biographies" categories. Black Star News reports that "his current book ‘Target’ is his fifth No. 1 out of 12-consecutive bestselling books on Amazon.com." His last No. 1 was Dark Soul (2020), The Professor (2019), Disrupter (2012) and Not a Nonviolent Negro (2013). The book, his third consecutive No. 1, is unique because it features his artwork "Target" on the cover. It is a 34X34 circular Informal abstraction acrylic on canvas artwork that features a Black baby in utero. The baby is filled with two bullet holes, in the head and torso.

“Dark Soul" was released on Aug. 17, 2020. The book, which tells the story of the black soul in the context of Black Lives Matter, peaked at No. 1 on Amazon's "Hot New Releases" in "Philosophy Reference." Dark soul is his fourth No. 1. The book makes visible an African-based philosophy of the soul and talks about the implications of denying humanity's true origin.

In 2019, “The Professor: Witnessing White Power” details how gay interracial relationships and encounters have shaped black power. The book debuted at No. 1 on “New Releases in LGBT Literary Criticism” and “New Releases in Gay & Lesbian Literary Criticism” when released in May 2019. The paperback, his first ever, debuted at No. 2 when released in December on the “New Releases in Gay & Lesbian Literary Criticism” chart. The Professor is a powerful book detailing the sex lives of Jean-Michel Basquiat, James Baldwin, Marvin Gaye, Richard Pryor and Malcolm X. It promises to contain explosive new information about Basquiat's relationship with Klaus Nomi. "Much of the book works from Jane Ward's book 'Not Gay: Sex between Straight White Men'" Redding said. "Ward, who is a lesbian, writes about power exchanges between white men. The Professor explores how gay interracial relationships and encounters may have empirically had an impact on the black community."

In 2017, Out Loud was his tell-all autobiography. The Brook - half broadcast and half book - was released on Oct. 13, 2017 exclusively to his talk show subscribers and to the entire nation on Nov. 6th. The Brook debuted at No. 2 on "Amazon.com Hot New Releases Gay and Lesbian Biographies and Memoirs." The book matched his most successful books Sinister Citizen and Not a Nonviolent Negro by being ranked in the Top 100 for five straight weeks. The brook has been called "shocking" by Metro Source and CBS. The NYC GAYLETTER called the book "juicy" just after Redding pulled it from Amazon in January of 2018 and made it only available for a short time on his website ReddingNewsReview.com.

“Sinister Citizen” was his first fiction book. This book, released on March 13, 2017, dealt with President Trump's America. The book has been called "fascinating" by KKXX. The book peaked on the Top 30 on "Amazon.com- Hot New Releases LGBT Short Reads" and is his first ever title to rank in the Top 50 in pre-orders on the same list. The book was just as successful as “Not a Nonviolent Negro” by being ranked in the Top 100 for five straight weeks on the "Amazon.com -Hot New Releases LGBT Short Reads."

Redding's book, “Why Black Lives Matter: How Borigination” explained the ways police officers and whites should treat black people was officially released on July 6th, 2015. The book peaked at the top of multiple charts on Amazon.com two days ahead of when it was exclusively released to his subscribers (July 3). The book surged to No. 1 on Amazon.com - "Hot New Releases" in "Philosophy and Reference" and "Philosophy and Criticism" categories. It rose to No. 2 in "Philosophy and Criticism" and "No. 3 in "Philosophy and Reference," respectively among Amazon.com's Best Sellers lists. This was also the first time Redding topped the Amazon.com -"Hot New Releases" in "Philosophy and Reference" list since his 2012 release of “Disrupter.” The foreword was also pinned by Dr. Lewis R. Gordon, who also wrote a foreword for Redding's book “Resurrection.” He wrote: “Such is the question posed by Redding. There is an existential paradox worth considering: sometimes the winner loses and losers win. The loss of soul as the price of “victory” is the folly of abusers; soul integrity is a triumph even in the face of lost battles. Who wants to be celebrated for, ultimately, murdering humanity’s soul? Redding’s theory of Borigination is a demand to take heed of the irreplaceability and gravity of such in our times, for which we have the onus of considering in a world where time itself is, proverbially, running out.”

A year earlier, Redding's “Unthinkable: Poems, Philosophies and Paintings,” was released on July 7th, 2014. The book peaked on July 13th on Amazon’s - "Hot New Releases" at "No. 4" in "Art and Painting" and "No. 7" in "Reference and Quotations." It also ranked "No. 27" in "Art and Painting" and "No. 47" in "Reference and Quotations" respectively on Amazon.com's Best Sellers lists. The book was provided for free to subscribers of Redding's talk show and website.

Redding's “Not a Nonviolent Negro: How I Survived Obama,” is still his most successful book to date debuting at No. 1 on Amazon.com in three categories in March 2013. The book, which was released on March 5th, was No. 1 on Amazon.com "Best Sellers List" in "Nationalism" and "Hot New Releases" in the "Social Philosophy" and "Nationalism" categories, respectfully. The book also has a soundtrack Not a Nonviolent Negro which also debuted on Amazon.com at No. 1 among "Hot New Releases" in "Disco".  The book and album were released on the same day.

The Not a Nonviolent Negro album was a follow up to his dance album Unleash the Whip!, which was released on Dec. 4th, 2012, on iTunes and Amazon.com (via CD Baby). The album, which also takes portions of his talk show and sets them to heavy dance beats, reached No. 2 on Amazon.com "Hot New Releases" in the "DJ & Dance" "House" category and got 3 1/2 stars from former About.com dance music critic Jimi Bruce.

Redding's second most successful book, “Disrupter: Pathway to Political Independence,” debuted at No. 1 on Amazon.com Hot New Releases - Political Reference list on Aug. 13th, 2012 and remained there for more than a week. The book is considered a reference guide for independents and includes parts of Redding's life story.

His e-book, “Resurrection: A Historical Anthology of two Forgotten African American Philosophers,” reached No. 3 on the Amazon.com "Hot New Releases" list in less than a week after it was released in April 2012. The foreword was pinned by Dr. Lewis R. Gordon.

That same month, his “One a Day Fade Away” diet e-guide hit No. 29 on "Amazon's Best Sellers" list.

His e-book, “Where's the Change?: Why Neither Obama, nor the GOP Can Solve America's Problems,” was ranked number 30 on the Amazon.com "Top 100" for best sellers less than one month after it was released in January of 2012.  

He has also authored the critically acclaimed e-book, “Hired Hatred: Why politicians and the political prejudices they tout are mutually exclusive from good government."  The book peaked at No. 3 on the "Amazon.com Best Sellers" list on March 16th, 2013.    

Educator

Redding, who has taught at several universities in New York City, is known for his thesis "Black Voices, White Power: Members of the Black press make meaning of media hegemony." He wrote the thesis while earning his master’s in communication studies. It was published in the Journal of Black Studies in March of 2017. He has also coined the phrase, "Resolution of Risk," which was first used at the International Public Debate Association's National Tournament., after his thesis was published in the organization's peer-reviewed publication (The Journal of the International Public Debate Association).  The paper was presented by Redding before a packed audience at Bossier Parish Community College. 

He has lectured at Pratt Institute, Temple University, the University of Maryland in College Park, Connecticut College, Morris Brown College, and Howard Community College. Redding was researched and studied by the communication school at Université Libre de Bruxelles in Belgium in 2014, for The University of Missouri in 2018, and Florida State University in 2007. In 2012, Stanford University selected Redding as John S. Knight Journalism Fellowship Semifinalist for his journalism innovation.

He has also served as a panelist for the National Association for Black Journalists. Redding was also a keynote speaker for the National Council of Negro Women Metropolitan Atlanta Section and the Atlanta Urban Media Makers. 

Artist

Finally, this polymath is a former hip-hop radio personality and acclaimed abstract artist. 

He has been a top-rated hip-hop radio personality in Macon, Ga. – a city that is famous for another family member, Otis Redding. As a radio personality, he was first to record multi-platinum selling rapper Bubba Sparxxx - on Redding’s album "Tony Smoove's Aircheck Volume 1."

He is also a professional-selling painter (since age 12) and he has shown in Europe and beyond. His works have been called "iconic" by NYC art critic Per Larson and "trademark" by NY Art Beat. "It is always an event anytime Rob Redding's smear paintings are featured," writes John Blee, a respected critic and artist.

His work "Black Power: Unapologetically Militant" announced sold for $10,000 dollars at a group art show at Fridman Gallery (July of 2021). It later sold for an equal sum again to a private buyer in Georgia in November of 2024. It was his biggest selling artwork to date. "I am tired of simply arguing that Black Lives Matter,” Redding told Black Star News. “The pandemic has taught me that sometimes you have to have a radical approach just to get to where whites beg you to kneel instead of ripping shit up.”

His last most recent solo show entitled Black & White at the Morningside Heights Public Library was “highly successful”, according to Consciousness Magazine in the fall of 2024. The Black Power Peace sold to a new buyer days after the show. During that same time, he was apart of the the Dirty Little Drawings show at Soho Project Space. Consciousness Magazine raved: Redding “rocked the queer art world at the Soho Project Space of New York with a collection of 10 avant-garde reflective images that confronted racism among gay men. Last month, he joined Ikon Models, further diversifying his portfolio of creative expressions.” Redding’s influence extends beyond the airwaves, as he was voted the third "Hottest Media Types, Male, On Air" for his broadcast show in 2008

Redding’s appeal has been evident for years. Back in 2008, he was voted the third "Hottest Media Types, Male, On Air" for his broadcast show.

In 2023, Black Star News called his art work “Bad Words” which attacks a growing deluge of homophobia in the country “salacious.” The New York newspaper wrote: Rob Redding is “a mixture of bright, bold, and brash.”

Finally in 2023, he graced the cover of Consciousness Magazine which declared him “The Master of Commentary and Canvas.” The magazine called his style and subject matter “racy.” The magazine wrote: “He blends black and white acrylic paints making them look like oil paintings.” The magazine featured coverage of his participation in a 14 person show in Manhattan where he was only one of two featured in New Criterion.