Top billin' Stories of laughter, lessons, and triumph

Comedian Bellamy debuts with an animated account of his life, starting with his humble beginnings in Newark, N.J. "Hard work, and even more work, was one of the key lessons of my youth," he writes, recounting waking up at 4 a.m. during high school to help his father clean a bank, one of the many gigs his parents worked to stay afloat. While at Rutgers University, Bellamy took African American studies classes that he credits with opening his eyes to the historical and cultural contributions of Black people, and he "vowed to represent my family and Black men in a positive light whatever I chose to do." His time at Rutgers was also when he decided to transform his penchant for making people laugh into a career as a stand-up comedian, drawing inspiration from Eddie Murphy and Richard Pryor as he honed his skills on the New York City comedy circuit. He chronicles his biggest successes, including a breakout feature on HBO's Def Comedy Jam in 1992, his stint as a video jockey for MTV, touring with Janet Jackson, and acting roles in How to Be a Player and Love Jones. Bellamy's conversational style crackles with energy, but there aren't as many laugh-out-loud moments as one might expect. Still, Bellamy's fans will want to check this out. (Apr.)

The comedian and actor's life story. Bellamy's narrative isn't quite a fairy tale, but it could definitely be a Lifetime movie. For much of the book, the author engagingly details the early milestones of his life: growing up poor in New Jersey, ditching his computer science studies at Rutgers ("It was boring as hell and required having a solitary focus"), and finding himself on the fast track in a good-paying marketing job at a tobacco company before giving it up to pursue comedy. "Anytime I could bring a laugh or levity to a situation, I'd do it gladly," he writes. "Making people feel good was my calling and I was damn good at it, if I do say so myself." It's a fair self-assessment but not quite the anything-goes material that made him a must-see music and acting personality in the 1990s. Bellamy offers a few behind-the-scenes revelations--e.g., when he hung up on Janet Jackson because he thought it was a prank call, or how Michael Jackson's handlers rejected most of his questions for an interview. Many readers may feel that Bellamy is holding something back, especially when discussing his love life. "A real man will never kiss and tell, but I will confirm that my life certainly played out like a movie," he writes. "As you're ascending into the stratosphere of fame, women are like stars in a clear night sky because they suddenly appear everywhere." The reason for the caginess comes toward the end, as he discusses slowing down his career to stay home with his kids. "I want to produce content that reflects the positive side of the Black experience," he writes of his eponymous production company. It's an admirable quest to maintain your values as a role model, which Bellamy certainly does, especially when discussing racial issues, but it cramps his style as a storyteller. Bellamy's tale of success is inspirational but slightly sanitized. Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.