Assouline's 'The Book of HOV' Commemorates JAY-Z's Brooklyn Public Library Tribute Exhibition

After dropping a comprehensive book on the NBA’s most memorable moments in October, Assouline has returned with an all-new book, titled The Book of HOV: A Tribute to JAY-Z, commemorating and immortalizing JAY-Z’s The Book of HOV: A Tribute exhibition at the Brooklyn Public Library last year. The expansive gallery, which ran from July to December 2023, attracted over 600,000 visitors, making it one of the largest public installations in US history.

Divided into eight chapters, the book highlights JAY-Z’s unwavering cultural influence with more than 700 images and in-depth essays from various authors. Just like the exhibition, the book spotlights thousands of archival objects from JAY-Z’s impressive career, including his original recording masters, stage outfits, unseen photographs, the guitar he played at Glastonbury Festival, Daniel Arsham’s HOV Hands sculpture, the Reasonable Doubt rapper’s Rock & Roll Hall of Fame award and more legendary memorabilia.

“More than a multi-hyphenate, JAY-Z has broken new ground in an astonishing number of arenas, both figurative and literal,” reads an official description from the publisher. “The Book of HOV uncovers how JAY-Z demonstrates— with his whole being—that you can set your intention and create your own story.”

The book will come in Assouline’s Ultimate and Classics collections. Notably, the publisher also tapped Daniel Arsham to create an exclusive “Special Limited Edition” version of the book, of which there will only be five numbered copies. The Arsham text is billed as a “topographical, museum-quality sculpture and a significant cultural artifact” that is hand-signed by the artist.

Assouline’s The Book of HOV: A Tribute to Jay-Z will become available to shop online on December 4. The Classics version will be priced at $120 USD, and the Ultimate edition will go for $2,000 USD. Take a look inside the binding in the gallery above.