For more information:
Frank R. Scatoni
619-807-1887
frank@ventureliterary.com

"No Kill Date"

Venture Literary Sells Sells Hip-Hop Memoir to Ballantine Books

On January 1, 2007, Frank R. Scatoni of Venture Literary sold the North American rights to Bruce Williams and Donnell Alexander’s Rollin’ with Dre to Melody Guy at One World/Ballantine Books, an imprint of Random House.

Williams and Alexander’s hip-hop narrative offers a fascinating backstage pass into gangsta rap’s history, as Williams recounts his experiences as rap mogul Dr. Dre’s right-hand man for the past two decades. Williams, from the privileged perspective of best friend and most trusted advisor to one of the most legendary names in hip-hop, chronicles Dre’s early days with seminal gangsta rap group N.W.A., through the explosion of The Chronic, and up to the release of Dre’s long-anticipated forthcoming album, Detox. “I’m about to blow open the top on everything I saw,” writes Williams, “from Suge’s shady dealings, to Tupac’s chaotic rise and demise, to Marshall Mathers’ wild-eyed stab at making his MC mark, to stoned Snoop’s struggle to take control of his career, to the in-your-face mess that was the collaboration/war between 50 Cent and The Game.”

Williams has been Dr. Dre’s right-hand man for almost two decades, having been involved in every aspect of Dre’s personal life (best man at Dre’s wedding) and professional life (Dre’s consigliere). Also an actor (John Singleton cast him in Higher Learning), screenwriter, film/TV producer, and rap impresario, Williams is currently working music and television projects centered on the hip-hop world.

Donnell Alexander is the author of the critically acclaimed memoir Ghetto Celebrity. Published by Crown in 2003, it was named one of the best books of the year by the San Francisco Chronicle and Africana.com. His unique journalistic style helped set the tone at ESPN the Magazine, where he was a member of the original writing staff. Alexander has written about hip-hop for publications as diverse as The Source, Utne Reader, and the Los Angeles Times.


To learn more about Venture Literary, visit: www.ventureliterary.com.
To learn more about Ballantine Books, visit: www.randomhouse.com/rhpg/about/history.html#ballantine.
To learn more about Donnell Alexander, visit: http://www.donnellalexander.com/