Get ready for a captivating journey in this book as it unveils the ups and downs that shaped Mr. Bellamy into the impressive person he is today. Each chapter offers a glimpse into how he not only became famous but also remained in the spotlight. It is well-written, and Bill seamlessly tells his story in a fun yet honest manner. Even if you know Bill Bellamy from '90s movies, this book reveals a bunch of things you probably didn't know, adding an extra layer of interest. The book brought back fond memories of the music video industry of the 80s & 90s.

I especially enjoyed the last chapter, where he pays a touching tribute to his father, who passed away just after he finished writing most of the book – it was really heart-touching!

I loved this. I expected something different and I was pleasantly surprised. It definitely wasn’t boring. We went on a journey in every chapter. I could “hear” Bill’s voice as I read, it was really well written. I learned a lot of things I didn’t know about his career. I liked that there’s life lessons sprinkled in as well. I would definitely recommend this to others. A great memoir.

Of all the books I have read this year, and reviewed, this will be the first where one I read, but I didn’t like it. I was expecting a lot more stories of him being a comedian and also his life at MTV. Yeah, he told a few stories of those times, but nearly not enough.

It was interesting, though, to see how quickly he became famous.

I've followed Bill Bellamy's career since his movie "Booty Call" and from reading his book there was so much I did not know about him. This book is funny and gives you alot of information about the comedy business. I recommend it to anyone who wants a laugh and to learn about a well-seasoned, passionate comic.

5/5⭐️s for Top Billin’’: Stories of Laughter, Lessons, and Triumph by Bill Bellamy. I really enjoyed this book. It was laidback, witty and entertaining.
⠀
* Most celebrity books contains stories I’ve already heard before either from social media or TMZ. But, Bill’s stories were new to me. There were no recycled stories told. I enjoyed reading everything for the first time.
⠀
* Each chapter was concisely written. Light-hearted, yet he didn’t shy away from heavily weighted topics. I found the delivery very soothing.
⠀
* His comedic flair was perfectly executed!
⠀
* He shared a lot about his MTV days. What’s interesting is that I totally forgot Bill was once a VJ on MTV. I vaguely remember him from the channel. I remember him most for is his role in one of my all time favorite movies Love Jones.
⠀
* I enjoyed learning how at an early age, he was very intentional about creating a clean cut Bill Bellamy brand.
⠀
* The ratchet part of the book was learning that Bill’s wife Kristen was friends with his then girlfriend Julie. Kristen made her move on Bill after hearing Julie continuously talk about Bill! (Ladies, let this be a lesson, keep your stories about your men to yourselves😉. These girls ain’t loyal😂).
⠀
* Learning how his brother passed away blew my mind. I totally understand why Bill will never drink soda again. Definitely the saddest moment for me.
⠀
* Before reading this book I wasn’t a big Bill Bellamy supporter. I didn’t dislike him. I just didn’t think much about him. He kind of blended in with the sea of lesser known actors and comedians. He didn’t stand out. But after reading this book, I think I’m now a supporter. This book separated him from the pack. I even paid more attention to his role in the 2001 movie 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘉𝘳𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘴 as I watched it again just a few days ago.
⠀
* Overall, I’m glad I read this book. It was a quick, easy read that I found very pleasing.
⠀
Thank you Amistad via Netgalley for the gifted eARC in exchange for an honest review. I enjoyed the journey.

Not to date myself too much but I grew up in the era when MTV really was Music Television. It was (initially) the go-to for all things music. So when I saw that Bill Bellamy was releasing a book, I was all in!

From Yo! MTV Jams to the spring break specials, Bill was the face of hip hop and R&B for the network and constantly kept the culture at the forefront. If you wanted to know what was going on, he was the source.

It was interesting to read from his perspective, how he was able to transition from a very corporate role to a position on the opposite end of the spectrum. Not to mention his ascent to comedic stardom. Most poignant are the moments unrelated to his career that he shares that truly show what shaped him into the person that he has become. There are endearing tributes to his parents and sweet stories about his siblings. He also discusses his community and how that impacted growth in his career and personal life. He also details how he met his wife and the births of their children. How he speaks about adjusting after those major life changes is an important reminder of what is really important.

This is will be a great book for anyone who grew up during the MTV era to get a bit of behind-the-scenes action, and for anyone interested in reading a personal growth story.

In Top Billin' Bill Bellamy shares his life story growing up in Brick City as a latchkey kid who looked out for his younger sister. He writes about his success as a young business man and how his business acumen eventually led him to work at MTV where he became a famous VJ. I loved the nostalgia this book provided me with as an 80s baby and long time fan of Bills.

Bellamy goes into detail about the many transitions required of him as he evolved from comedian to VJ to actor. He writes about his maturation process and how he found the love of his life. He prides himself on being a family man and speaks honestly to the ways parenthood and raising his daughter and son changed him. It's a beautiful thing to read this experience from a famous Black man who made intentional career choices and changes in order to be present for his family.

He writes, "My advice to my fellow brothers would be to stay the course and do the work. The payoff is tremendous and the moments shared are priceless. Careers are incredible but family is irreplaceable."

If you are a fan of Bill Bellamy and Black comedy from the 90s and 2000s this is a great memoir to read that will place you back at that special time. He speaks about his friendships with Tupac and The Notorious B.I.G. among other big names and the ways he used whatever influence he had to promote Black artists and creatives. Most importantly, he ends with a tribute to his father who he misses everyday. A riveting, funny, and honest reflection on Bill's career, family and life!

Thank you to the author and publisher for the e-arc copy!