Top Billin': Stories of Laughter, Lessons, and Triumph [Hardcover]

From the MTV trailblazer, stand-up comedian, and actor, a hilariously candid memoir that is an intimate, entertaining, and heartfelt tour through the exclusive, elusive, and eternally iconic world of ’90s pop culture.

Imagine 50 Cent’sHustle Harder, Hustle Smarterwritten by a nerdy Black kid from Newark, New Jersey, who made it big despite the skepticism of his family. That’sTop Billin'.

Bill Bellamy is Carlton Banks’s slightly cooler and comedically inclined alter-ego—a guy who went against the grain and left a promising corporate career path to pursue comedy (much to the dismay of his family). Making the leap paid off—in ways Bill never expected. InTop Billin',he looks back at his time at MTV during the ’90s, when the cable music channel was at the epicenter of pop culture. He recounts his legendary interviews with the biggest pop stars—Tupac, Biggie, and Kurt Cobain—making friends with Janet Jackson, and even coining the infamous term “booty call” on HBO’sDef Comedy Jam.During his time at MTV, Bill broke color and class barriers, appearing four times a week on the network’s various programs, includingMTV JamzandMTV Beach House.

Top Billin' is an exclusive, all-access backstage pass to Bill’s career and life. It’s all in here—memories, music, and unforgettable moments, including conversations with some of the decade’s legendary artists, the best of the ’90s celebri-tea, nostalgia, and insights on what it meant to be a tastemaker during one of the most exciting and innovative periods in music and American pop culture history.

Bellamy’s conversational style crackles with energy... Bellamy’s fans will want to check this out. -Publishers Weekly