JAY-Z fans who didn’t get a chance to attend his “Book of HOV” museum exhibit need not miss out as it has been turned into an actual book.
The rap legend teamed up with luxury publisher Assouline to release a coffee table book called The Book of HOV: A Tribute To JAY-Z on Wednesday (December 4), coinciding with his 55th birthday.
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The original exhibit, which was held at the Brooklyn Public Library from July to December last year, showcased thousands of JAY-Z artifacts, including original recording masters, never-before-seen photos and iconic stage wear.
Aiming to “provide a behind-the-scenes look” at the billionaire mogul’s life while celebrating his “artistry, roots, accomplishments and transcendent cultural impact,” the exhibit even featured a full-size recreation of Baseline Studios, the famed NYC recording studio where Jigga crafted classic albums like The Blueprint and The Black Album.
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According to Assouline, the 432-page book “commemorates and immortalizes the immersive installation, showcasing in one place the thousands of archived objects from every facet of JAY-Z’s professional life.”
In addition to nearly 700 images, the collector’s item also includes in-depth essays to accompany each of its eight chapters, putting Hov’s achievements and cultural impact in context for readers.
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The Book of HOV: A Tribute To JAY-Z doesn’t come cheap, though, with a “classic” edition costing $120 and an “ultimate” edition — featuring a luxurious clamshell presentation case, white gloves and a signature canvas tote bag — setting readers back $2,000.
Copies are available to purchase here. A portion of the proceeds from the sale of the ultimate edition will be donated to the Brooklyn Public Library.
The “Book of HOV” museum exhibit attracted over 600,000 visitors, making it one of the largest public installations in U.S. history.
It was especially well-received in the Hip Hop community, with Jermaine Dupri crowning it one of the best Hip Hop 50 celebrations.
“As I’m coming in the studio, I’m watching clips of this ‘Book of HOV’ thing that Brooklyn Library decided to wrap the whole building in JAY-Z’s lyrics and turn the whole library into the ‘Book of HOV’ exhibit,” he said in a video posted online.
“Listen, man, this is one of the most creative things I’ve seen done for Hip Hop 50. I’m inspired.”
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Questlove was also blown away after visiting the exhibit in person, particularly by the replica of Baseline Studios.
“Yo, man… I’m mindblown. They recreated Baseline Studios!” he exclaimed while filming himself providing a tour of the exhibit. “Wow, this it to the letter! This is literally to the letter.”
