Bill Bellamy Talks Legacy, Longevity & Learning from the Culture on Almost The Weekend with Besa Gordon

Comedian, actor, author, and all-around media legend Bill Bellamy recently pulled up to the Almost The Weekend studio for a one-on-one sit-down with Besa Gordon—and he did not hold back. From coining the term “booty call” to reflecting on 30+ years in the entertainment industry, Bellamy brought wisdom, comedy, and inspiration to the Black Media Matters studio in Seattle.

Bellamy opened up about how the media landscape has evolved since his MTV days, where he once served as the plug for all things music and culture. “Back in the day, MTV was a one-stop shop. Now everything is fragmented. You’ve got to go to TikTok, Spotify, Instagram… there’s no one place anymore,” he explained. “But if you work the internet to your advantage, people will know you. It’s just a machine now.”

When Besa asked whether that fragmentation affects music longevity, Bellamy didn’t hesitate: “Absolutely. Everything is microwave right now… Back then, you knew an album was coming. The label was behind it. Now, if you’re not following Brandy, or the Fugees, or whoever—it’s like, what album?”

He also touched on the shift in comedy, acknowledging today’s TikTok-driven rise of internet comedians. “I don’t hate on it,” Bellamy said. “There’s a lot of funny people online—Desi Banks, Mojo Brookzz, Bubba Dub. But being funny and being a comedian are two different things. A comedian is like a great shooter in basketball. You need reps. You’ve got to get your form down.”

Bill shouted out Tacoma’s own Nate Jackson for being a blueprint of consistency and evolution. “I’ve known Nate for 15 years. He’s always been funny—but he leaned into the internet, dropped a new comedy special, and now people really know him. That’s the game.”

Beyond the jokes and gems, the conversation got personal when Bellamy explained why he makes it a point to tap in with the culture in every city he visits. “I love us. I love our people. And I meet so many Black entrepreneurs, inventors, chefs—people doing amazing things that nobody knows about. I’m not gonna be a secret, and neither should they be. I’m here to rep Black men on a positive level.”

When asked about the secret to his decades of success, Bellamy said it all comes down to growth and authenticity. “You’ve got to evolve. I’ve been Bill Bellamy in different eras—from the high-top fade to How To Be A Player to now. It’s about being real and relatable.”

He also opened up about his favorite interviews—from a deep-voiced Prince (“I thought he was gonna hypnotize me!”) to Janet Jackson laying her head on his chest during an on-air moment that had everyone thinking they were a couple.

Before wrapping, Bellamy gave viewers a glimpse into his latest projects, including season two of his podcast Top Billin’ and his book, Top Billin’: Stories of Laughter, Triumph and Life Lessons. “My memoir is proof that dreams are possible,” he said. “It’s not all wins. Life’s a rollercoaster. But it’s what you do with the losses that defines your story.”

Bellamy closed the interview with words that sum up the entire conversation: “To be purposeful in whatever you do is important—because you never know who you’re going to inspire.”