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Hip-Hop Legend JAY-Z Exhibit Now on Display at Brooklyn Central Library
Jay-Z's exhibit The Book Of Hov
JAY-Z
The Book Of Hov
will be up until October 2023
Ahead of hip-hop's 50th anniversary in August 2023, JAY-Z's retrospective exhibition "The Book Of Hov" is being held at the Brooklyn Central Library (Hov is Jay-Z's nickname). The entire wall of the library's main entrance is covered with JAY-Z lyrics, and a few days before the exhibition opened, there was a fuss about the fact that they were JAY-Z lyrics.
Although JAY-Z is now a Grammy Award winner and has achieved such success that he is now considered a Hip Hop legend, as a child he lived a disadvantaged life on welfare in the "Marcy Houses," a public housing complex in Bed-Stuy. JAY-Z has a strong passion for Brooklyn, and when the NBA team, the Nets, moved from New Jersey to Brooklyn, he became a co-owner of the Nets, contributing to the revitalization of Brooklyn. In addition to his accomplishments as a hip-hop star, this year's exhibit pays tribute to his achievements as an entrepreneur and philanthropist, and is spread out over eight zones.
First, visitors are greeted as they pass through the main entrance by a sculpture by Daniel Arsham in the form of the two arms of JAY-Z, who performs the gesture known as "Throwing Up the Rock" with a diamond-shaped hand sign. Behind it, a giant LED vision towers over the main atrium, showing a digital portrait of JAY-Z. Placed below it is a monument with the impressive three red lines used in the jacket photo of his 2009 album "The Blueprint 3. In addition, there is a space where a full-scale replica of the "Baseline Recording Studio," where the band's best-known songs were created, has been reproduced, and long lines of people are waiting to get a glimpse of it.
On the second floor, items related to JAY-Z, such as the recording master of "Things That U Do," are on display, and JAY-Z's speech at the ceremony is also shown.
To commemorate the retrospective, 13 limited edition library cards featuring JAY-Z's album artwork have been issued at the Central Library and Mercy Library; after August, they will be issue at select public libraries also throughout Brooklyn.
Admission is free for all. Since there is a significant line to get in, admission may be restricted to limit the number of people and time, so early visitation is recommended. The exhibition will be open until October.
