How YouTuber Bigg Jah Turned A Few Pennies Into A Media Empire With A Tubi Partnership – AfroTech
Bigg Jah saw a window of opportunity through social media and didn’t take it for granted, helping build the media empire he leads today.
Today, the Los Angeles native, born Jahdai Pickett, wears many hats as a comedian, director, actor, writer, content creator, and filmmaker, describing his work as “hood comedy.” But his passion for storytelling started long before he amassed millions of followers. It was his family who played a part in shaping his creativity. This included his aunt, an actress who drove him to Fox Studios to watch tapings of classic shows such as “Martin” and “Living Single.”
“That was my first taste of watching Hollywood. Even before that, I was a fan of films,” he told AFROTECH™ at Dream Con 2026. “My dad and my uncle, they always had VHS’s and the laser discs back in the day … so I was a lover of film.”
Those early experiences solidified his dream of working in entertainment, whether behind or in front of the camera. He studied film at the University of California, Berkeley, while playing football as a Pac-10 defensive lineman. Post-college, he maintained his desire to create feature-length films and TV shows while working several jobs, including as an elementary school after-school program leader, personal trainer, substitute teacher, group home counselor, and bodyguard.
“All these different things were life experiences that allowed me to become a more well-rounded storyteller. I didn’t grow up in the industry. I grew up a regular kid from L.A., ” Bigg Jah explained.
Getting That First Check
Without industry connections or the budget to make big films, Bigg Jah turned to the one resource he did have: social media. YouTube was his first platform. He began building community, creating and editing two or three clips a day to release throughout the week.
“Now I’m consistently dropping these small microdose stories and building a fan base slowly … As you stay consistent, the following starts building and more and more and more, and it just feeds the fire to keep doing it,” Bigg Jah mentioned.
Then an unexpected YouTube payout of $0.06 changed his perspective.
“When I saw six pennies, that let me know I could make six cents, and then six dollars, and then sixty dollars. You give me six cents, I’m gonna turn that into six million. So, when I saw that, it allowed me to push further on YouTube … I wasn’t monetized anywhere else, but I had all these videos on Instagram. So I took my one-minute videos and just put ’em on YouTube,” he continued.
Rather than pocketing his early earnings, Bigg Jah reinvested every dollar into improving his productions. Purchases included a better computer, lights, a shoulder rig, batteries, a microphone, and a second camera.
Since 2018, Bigg Jahh has been a full-time creator. He has collected more than 800 million views and nearly 8 million followers across Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, and TikTok, according to information shared with AFROTECH™. He has proven he can build his own audience on his own terms.
Partnership With Tubi
Bigg Jahh’s independently built audience eventually opened doors beyond social media. He is now bringing that audience to Tubi, a global entertainment company with a portfolio of nearly 300,000 movies and TV episodes, plus nearly 400 exclusive originals, all free to access, according to a press release.
In 2025, the company announced several exclusive digital-first creator series coming to the platform. Bigg Jahh released several titles on the platform prior to the announcement, such as “Whole Crew Is Stupid” and “My Roommate Pays All the Bills.”
“They did well enough to where Tubi was finally like, ‘Okay, we’ll give you a shot to talk to you, and we’ll figure something out.’ And it’s working because they still let me keep my IP, keep my creativity, and it’s a great partnership,” he said during a panel held at Dream Con 2026, which featured Kudzi Chikumbu, Tubi’s vice president of creator partnerships.
Chikumbu said:
“At Tubi, we’re trying to build a bridge to Hollywood for creators. What it really means is how do we identify voices that are making incredible content, whether those are series or features … Then a part of the job is making sure that we launch it well, put some marketing behind it, and then also be internal advocates for creators.”
On the stage, Bigg Jah announced new projects that are making their way to Tubi. “L.A.U.G.H. Houston” is an anthropology series that will feature several Houston locals who are dealing with everyday challenges, including family and relationships. “Bigg Jah Presents: The Whole Crew Is Stupid” is a live comedy showcase that spotlights various digital comedians and was taped live during Dream Con 2026. “Bigg Homies” is a feature film that will center on a beloved but “feared” neighborhood enforcer who faces foreclosure, leading him on a humorous journey across Los Angeles. Filming will begin in August.
Bigg Jah also teased L.A.U.G.H. Chicago.
“I’m excited about everything,” he expressed.
