Kanye West Owes Me $300 : And Other True Stories From a White Rapper Who Almost Made It Big

After Vanilla Ice, but before Eminem, there was "Hot Karl," the Jewish kid from the L.A. suburbs who became a rap battling legend—and then almost became a star. When 12-year old Jensen Karp got his first taste of rapping for crowds at his friend's bar mitzvah in 1991, little did he know that he was taking his first step on a crazy journey—one that would end with a failed million-dollar recording and publishing deal with Interscope Records when he was only 19. Now, in Kanye West Owes Me $300 , Karp finally tells the true story of his wild ride as "Hot Karl," the most famous white rapper you've never heard of. On his way to (almost) celebrity, Jensen shares his childhood run-ins with rock-listening, southern California classmates, who tell him that "rap is for black people," and then recounts his record-breaking rap battling streak on popular radio contest “The Roll Call”—a run that caught the eye of a music industry hungry for new rap voices in the early ‘00s. He also introduces his rap partner, Rickye, who constitutes the second half of their group XTra Large; his supportive mom, who performs with him onstage; and the soon-to-be-household-name artists he records with, including Kanye West, Redman, Fabolous, Mya, and will.i.am. Finally, he reveals why his album never saw the light of day (two words: Slim Shady), the downward spiral he suffered after, and what he found instead of rap glory. Full of rollicking stories from his close brush with fame, Karp’s hilarious memoir is the ultimate fish-out-of-water story about a guy who follows an unlikely passion—trying to crack the rap game—despite what everyone else says. It’s 30 Rock for the rap set; 8 Mile for the suburbs; and quite the journey for a white kid from the valley. After the Beastie Boys and Vanilla Ice, but before Eminem, there was "Hot Karl," the Jewish kid from the L.A. suburbs who became a rap battling legend--and then almost became a star When 12-year old Jensen Karp got his first taste of rapping for crowds at his friend's Bat Mitzvah in 1991, little did he know that he was taking his first step on a crazy journey--one that would end with a failed million-dollar recording and publishing deal with Interscope Records when he was only 19. In KANYE WEST OWES ME $300, Jensen will finally tell the true story of his wild ride as "Hot Karl," the most famous Jewish rapper you've never heard of. Along the way, we'll see Jensen's struggles with his ska- and rock-listening southern California classmates, who tell him that "rap is for black people"; his record-breaking rap battling streak on popular radio show Roll Call; his rise in the LA club scene; and the double life he leads the whole time. We'll also meet his supportive mother (who takes him to 21+ clubs and announces him at gigs); his rap partner Rickye (an African-American kid who formed the other half of their group, XTra Large); and the performers he recorded with, including soon-to-be household names Kanye West, Redman, Fabolous, Mya, Will.i.am; and then we'll enjoy rollicking stories of sex, drugs, and hip hop from his close brush with fame. Finally, we'll learn why his album never saw the light of day (two words: Slim Shady), his downward spiral after, and what Jensen found instead of rap glory. This hilarious memoir will be perfect for the person who reads Rap Genius, impresses friends with "Nuthin' But a G Thang" or "California Love" at karaoke, watches "Epic Rap Battles of History" videos, and perhaps bought Jeff Chang's CAN'T STOP, WON'T STOP and RZA's THE TAO OF WU. But this book also has a broader appeal as a quirky, fish-out-of-water memoir about a guy who follows an unlikely passion, despite what everyone else says. It's 8 Mile for the Pitch Perfect crowd In this “triumphantly funny” (AV Club) memoir, comedian Jensen Karp tells the story of how, as a Jewish kid from the L.A. suburbs, he became a rap battle legend—and then almost became a star. “The funniest person I follow on Twitter finally got smart and wrote about his unlikely—and hilarious—odyssey as teenage rapper Hot Karl.”—Kevin Smith, New York Times bestselling author of Tough Sh*t When twelve-year old Jensen Karp got his first taste of rapping for crowds at his friend’s bar mitzvah in 1991, little did he know that he was taking his first step on a journey that would end with a failed million-dollar recording and publishing deal with Interscope Records when he was only nineteen. Now, in Kanye West Owes Me $300, Karp finally tells the true story of his wild ride as “Hot Karl,” the most famous white rapper you’ve never heard of. On his way to (almost) celebrity, Jensen shares his childhood run-ins with rock-listening, Southern California classmates, who tell him that “rap is for black people,” and then recounts his record-breaking rap battling streak on popular radio contest “The Roll Call”—a run that caught the eye of a music industry hungry for new rap voices in the early ’00s. He also introduces his rap partner, Rickye, who constitutes the second half of their group XTra Large; his supportive mom, who performs with him onstage; and the soon-to-be-household-name artists he records with, including Kanye West, Redman, Fabolous, Mya, and will.i.am. Finally, he reveals why his album never saw the light of day (two words: Slim Shady), the downward spiral he suffered after, and what he found instead of rap glory. Full of rollicking stories from his close brush with fame, Karp’s hilarious memoir is the ultimate fish-out-of-water story about a guy who follows an unlikely passion—trying to crack the rap game—despite what everyone else says. It’s 30 Rock for the rap set; 8 Mile for the suburbs; and quite the journey for a white kid from the valley. Kanye West Owes Me $300 might be the funniest rap memoir ever. LA Weekly After Vanilla Ice, but before Eminem, there was "Hot Karl," the Jewish kid from the L.A. suburbs who became a rap battling legendand then almost became a star. When 12-year old Jensen Karp got his first taste of rapping for crowds at his friend's bar mitzvah in 1991, little did he know that he was taking his first step on a crazy journeyone that would end with a failed million-dollar recording and publishing deal with Interscope Records when he was only 19. Now, in Kanye West Owes Me $300 , Karp finally tells the true story of his wild ride as "Hot Karl,"the most famous white rapper you've never heard of. On his way to (almost) celebrity, Jensen shares his childhood run-ins with rock-listening, southern California classmates, who tell him that "rap is for black people," and then recounts his record-breaking rap battling streak on popular radio contest The Roll Calla run that caught the eye of a music industry hungry for new rap voices in the early 00s. He also introduces his rap partner, Rickye, who constitutes the second half of their group XTra Large; his supportive mom, who performs with him onstage; and the soon-to-be-household-name artists he records with, including Kanye West, Redman, Fabolous, Mya, and will.i.am. Finally, he reveals why his album never saw the light of day (two Slim Shady), the downward spiral he suffered after, and what he found instead of rap glory. Full of rollicking stories from his closebrush with fame, Karps hilarious memoir is the ultimate fish-out-of-water story about a guy who follows an unlikely passiontrying to crack the rap gamedespite what everyone else says. Its 30 Rock for the rap set; 8 Mile for the suburbs; and quite the journey for a white kid from the valley. "Kanye West Owes Me $300 might be the funniest rap memoir ever." –LA Weekly After Vanilla Ice, but before Eminem, there was "Hot Karl," the Jewish kid from the L.A. suburbs who became a rap battling legend—and then almost became a star. When 12-year old Jensen Karp got his first taste of rapping for crowds at his friend's bar mitzvah in 1991, little did he know that he was taking his first step on a crazy journey—one that would end with a failed million-dollar recording and publishing deal with Interscope Records when he was only 19. Now, in Kanye West Owes Me $300 , Karp finally tells the true story of his wild ride as "Hot Karl," the most famous white rapper you've never heard of. On his way to (almost) celebrity, Jensen shares his childhood run-ins with rock-listening, southern California classmates, who tell him that "rap is for black people," and then recounts his record-breaking rap battling streak on... Intro Straight outta Calabasas "Killin' at the playground" (lyrics, 1992) (818) Mile The best phone call Mack 10's briefcase Tyrese Isn't Happy Rap game Lloyd Dobler Caliente Karlito "Caliente Karlito" (lyrics, 1999) Jimmy Iovine's salmon plate My mom opened for Snoop RZA loves Happy days, but Pink hates me "Bounce" (lyrics, 1999) Sisqó's XXX collection Blind item "His hotness" (lyrics, 1992) My night with Gerardo Will.I.Ain't "Sump'n changed" (lyrics, 2000) Big checks and very little balance "The 'burbs" (lyrics, 2000/01) Kanye West owes me $300 "Armand Assante" (lyrics, 2000/01) Going ham The worst phone call "Let's talk" (lyrics, 2000/01) Spring breakdown "I've heard" (lyrics, 1992) Outro. Straight Outta Calabasas -- (818) Mile -- The Best Phone Call -- Mack 10's Briefcase -- Tyrese Isn't Happy -- Rap Game Lloyd Dobler -- Caliente Karlito -- Jimmy Iovine's Salmon Plate -- My Mom Opened For Snoop -- RZA Loves Happy Days, But Pink Hates Me -- Sisqâo's XXX Collection -- Blind Item -- My Night With Gerardo -- Will.I.Ain't -- Big Checks And Very Little Balance -- Kanye West Owes Me $300 -- Going Ham -- The Worst Phone Call -- Spring Breakdown. "The comedian, writer and co-owner of Gallery 1988 traces his heyday experiences as rapper "Hot Karl," describing the childhood experiences that shaped his early creative life, his relationship with rap partner Rickye and his recordings with such famous artists as Kanye West and will.i.am.,"--NoveList The comedian, writer and co-owner of Gallery 1988 traces his heyday experiences as rapper "Hot Karl," describing the childhood experiences that shaped his early creative life, his relationship with rap partner Rickye and his recordings with such famous artists as Kanye West and Will. I. Am