JENSEN KARP DISCUSSES HIS NEW MEMOIR KANYE WEST OWES ME $300, WITH GREG BEHRENDT

Kanye West Owes Me $300: And Other True Stories from A White Rapper Who Almost Made it Big (Crown)

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 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, but along the way would also include feuding with Fred Durst, opening for Snoop Dogg, blacking out with Mark McGrath, and recording with a young Kanye. 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. Karp’s hilarious yet surprisingly poignant 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.

Praise for Kanye West Owes Me $300

“The funniest person I follow on Twitter finally got smart and wrote about his unlikely—and hilarious—odyssey as teenage rapper Hot Karl. Karp’s sharp wit and gossipy giggles keep you turning pages, but what lingers is the story of a survivor. This book should be mandatory reading for or anyone who has ever wanted to be famous.”—Kevin Smith, New York Times bestselling author of Tough Sh*t
 
 “If I had kids, I'd read passages from this to them at night. Rap careers definitely haven't been explored from this perspective, and I'm excited to see the ripples. Jensen’s gonna make some enemies, though. I’ve been on television.” —Hannibal Buress
 
“I remember hearing faint whispers about a white kid on the west coast who got like the craziest deal ever from some radio freestyles or some shit. But we never saw anything concrete, so I assumed he was hip-hop's Bigfoot and left it at that. Who knew it was real??!!! This is the story of the rap game's Sasquatch.”—Bun B, Grammy-nominated rapper
 
 “Jensen's story is so funny and so well-written that it's impossible there's any truth to it.” —Kay Cannon, writer, Pitch Perfect and 30 Rock 
 
“Sure, everyone is curious to know what it's like to be a white rapper, but only Jensen Karp has the wit and humility to reveal what it was like to get knocked down by the music industry, dust off his Cross Colours, and keep moving.”—Paul Scheer

Jensen Karp, formerly known as Hot Karl, is an LA-based writer, comedian, and co-owner of Gallery 1988, the nation’s leading destination for pop-cultured themed artwork. He hosts the “Get Up On This” podcast on the Earwolf Network, co-hosts the web series “Baby Talk,” and has written and produced for Funny or Die, the MTV VMAs, HelloGiggles, Rolling Stone, WWE Raw, The Hundreds, and the ESPYs. As an actor, he’s appeared on VH1’s “Barely Famous” and “Candidly Nicole.” You can find him at jensenkarp.com or follow him at @Jensenclan88.

Greg Behrendt is a comedian, author, musician and sometime screen printer. He’s is the co- author of the New York Times bestselling books He’s Just Not That Into You and It’s Called A Breakup Because It’s Broken. Greg is a veteran standup whose resume includes specials on HBO, Comedy Central, Netflix and a recent imaginary special performed in the underground garage at Madison Square Garden. He has appeared on Conan, The Tonight Show and some cancelled stuff as well as being cut out of the film Jerry Maguire. Greg currently spends time over parenting his two lovely daughters, touring as a standup, recording his popular podcast Just Keep Them Alive, and playing with his timely surf, punk, reggae, ska band The Reigning Monarchs. He some day hopes to own a pillow and two chickens.