Yahoo Lifestyle Exclusive: Jay-Z Stars in Assouline’s Newest Coffee-Table Book
As one of the biggest celebrities on the planet, Jay-Z is well deserving of his own coffee-table book. And the Assouline team hasn’t let him down.
Today, the publisher unveiled its latest collector’s item: The Book of HOV, a tribute to the rapper that chronicles his achievements in the music world as well as other realms. On the heels of the Brooklyn Public Library’s 2023 exhibit of the same name, which drew more than 600,000 visitors, the book builds on that installation in a more permanent way. The 430-page tome is being offered in both Classics ($120) and Ultimate ($2,000) editions and is set to be released on Wednesday.
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Inside, The Book of HOV takes readers through every part of Jay-Z’s professional life. Almost 700 images depict items such as the guitar Jay-Z played at Glastonbury—he was the first rapper to perform at the festival—and his Rock & Roll Hall of Fame award, with HOV being the first solo hip-hop artist inducted. (Assouline shared two photos exclusively with Robb Report.) Alongside the images—some of which have never been seen before—various authors have contributed essays that dig in to Jay-Z’s artistry, entrepreneurship, activism, and more, with the eight chapters drawing their titles from the musician’s lyrics.
While Assouline has become well known for its luxurious coffee-table books, the publisher has taken things even further with its latest release. The team collaborated with artist Daniel Arsham on five hand-signed Collector’s Edition copies (price available upon request). For the Brooklyn Public Library exhibit, Arsham created the sculpture HOV’s Hands to celebrate Jay-Z’s iconic sign, so he’s certainly familiar with the rapper. Here, his edition of the book comes with a silver-foil stamped tri-fold cover and “Jay-Z blue” dyed leather binding. The tome is encased in a white-bronze clamshell, etched with Jay-Z lyrics and embossed with the book’s title.
As someone who has so thoroughly shaped our culture, Jay-Z seems like a natural fit for Assouline’s work. The publisher has previously honored characters like James Bond, products like Champagne, and institutions like Formula 1. Jay-Z may be a bit less traditional than some of those topics, but that can only make for a more interesting read. The book may not be as notable a decoration as a Grammy—Jay-Z himself has 24 lying around—but it’s no less striking.
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