A new book about Brooklyn native Jay-Z titled The Book of HOV: A Tribute to Jay-Z debuted on Wednesday, Dec. 4.
The book about Shawn Carter, who grew up in the Marcy Houses in Bedford Stuyvesant, is an extension of his popular 2023 exhibit at the Brooklyn Public Library, which attracted over 600,000 visitors, according to a press release.
With over 400 pages, the book from publisher Assouline, showcases archived objects from Jay-Z's life, including original recording masters, stage wear, interviews, videos, awards and unseen photographs.
With eight chapters (each title drawn from Jay-Z’s lyrics), The Book Of HOV details the pillars of Carter’s influence, from his artistry and craft to his entrepreneurship and activism.
In addition to the book’s nearly 700 images, the tome includes in-depth essays on each chapter’s theme, contextualizing the icon’s achievements and impact on culture.
Readers will find the guitar Jay-Z played at Glastonbury Festival; visual artist Daniel Arsham’s sculpture HOV Hands; his Rock & Roll Hall of Fame award; and hundreds of paper planes created by New York City schoolchildren who wrote their dreams inside.
There are three editions available. The classic version is $120, while the ultimate edition is $2,000. There will be five copies of the special limited edition (price available upon request) that was created by Arsham, which features a silver-foil stamped tri-fold cover with the rapper’s manifestations and custom blue dyed leather binding. It is encased in an Arsham-designed white-bronze clamshell.
A portion of the proceeds from the sale of the special limited edition will be donated to the Brooklyn Public Library.
