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Part 3: Bill Bellamy on Being 1st Comedian on Def Comedy Jam, Rejected from Def Jam Party
Part 1: Bill Bellamy on His Mom Getting Pregnant at 15, Dad was 18, Shaq is His Cousin
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Bill Bellamy originally envisioned a career on Wall Street, majoring in economics at Rutgers University with aspirations of becoming a finance professional or a venture capitalist. However, it was his natural comedic talent, often showcased during light-hearted hosting gigs and talent shows on campus, that steered him in a different direction. As his popularity as a campus comedian grew, Bellamy found himself drawn more to the stage than the stock market.
His major turning point came when he landed a spot on Showtime at the Apollo. Known for its tough crowd, Bellamy was determined not to get booed, especially with his mother in the audience. In a high-pressure environment where even seasoned performers faced the wrath of the audience, Bellamy started his set with his strongest material and captivated the crowd, earning enough applause to be invited back. This breakthrough, bolstered by encouragement from comedian Sinbad, launched his career in comedy, proving his decision to pivot from finance to funny was right.
