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Nothing could’ve prepared me for seeing the remodeling of the Brooklyn Library for “The Book of Hov: A celebration of the life and work of Shawn "JAY-Z" Carter” exhibit for the first time. The typically beige walls of the library were now white and covered with lyrics from some of Jay-Z’s most famous songs, including “Smile,” “Encore,” and “Justify My Thug.” The lyrics are displayed in paragraphs, reminding me of the formatting common in the Bibles I saw while growing up, suggesting that the library is now a chapter showcasing his legacy as an artist and leader in hip-hop. Anyone who frequents the Eastern Parkway or Grand Army Plaza area, especially by car, can attest to the glow of the Brooklyn Public Library. The building captures the sun’s rays and reflects them off the gold-line hieroglyphics on the pillars by the entrance and it now showcases one of the most influential artists just about 15 minutes away from where it all began for him.
As soon as you enter the exhibit, you’re met with a statue of Jay’s hands formed in the shape of a diamond to symbolize the entertainment agency, Roc Nation, founded and owned by the rapper in 2008. Paintings, statues, and relics from his career are also planted throughout the space. The exhibit is split into seven different sections encapsulating different stages of his life, including Section I: “Introduction,” Section II: “A Work of Art Already,” Section III: “Baseline Studios,” Section IV: “Did It All Without A Pen,” Section V: “Business, Man,” Section VI: “Win-Win, So Fly,” and Section VII: “Hov Did That.” My favorites were Section IV, Section VII, the second-floor balcony, where a 44 by 7-foot gallery could be found, adorned with unseen shots of Jay. Peering over the balcony, I saw countless people moving about the atrium, taking in this stunning experience.
“Did It Without a Pen'' contains a beautiful display of magazines bearing the Marcy-born superstar, as well as his very own turntables, notes, gold and platinum awards, amongst many others. Here, you’d also find a vinyl collection with all 236 records he sampled throughout his classic catalog–which I took my sweet time sifting through–and over 400 books that inspired him throughout the creation process. “Hov Did That” holds hand-written setlists, his very own Brooklyn Nets jersey with the number 4 on the back, as well as the guitar and scarf-swinging mic-stand from when he ironically headlined the Glastonbury festival in England, trolling The Oasis’ songwriter and guitarist, Noel Gallagher, for hating on the idea of a rapper headlining a rock festival. On the walls, you’ll see video footage of Jay performing before that crowd and seeing everyone lose their mind. When you walk further into the back room, you’ll find a blue tunnel, or what I call the back-back room, which is dedicated to HOV’s manifestations. There, a projector plays a collection of videos and photos of a young, hungry Jay-Z who, even then, knew he was destined to succeed.
I was already a fan of Jay-Z before visiting the “The Book of Hov” exhibit; I almost feel like it would’ve been difficult not to be. Growing up in this city, I could always count on the radio playing his hits, and thanks to his creative genius, there were always new hits to be played. Every lover of this art, from my father to my camp counselors, were fans of Jigga, so his voice was one I quickly became familiar with. It wasn’t until his collaboration album with Kanye West in 2011, titled Watch the Throne, that I would seek out his songs for myself, and I’ve been listening faithfully ever since. Part of me always knew what Jay-Z meant to my culture, yet, it wasn’t until this exhibit, where I could see his story in a new light, and experience the significance of his impact on the world, that I would understand what he meant to me. In my 24 years and counting, Jay has always existed as proof that a Black boy from the craziest parts of this crazy-ass city could change the world with just the strength of his words, and a constant reminder that passion and determination are the most valuable treasures I could own.
At face value, this museum, which is free to the public and will run until Dec. 4th, venerates one of the greatest rappers to grace a microphone, one who faced adversity and criticism for his political beliefs, especially those regarding Black empowerment, his background as a hustler from Marcy Projects in Bedford Stuyvesant, Brooklyn, and his business decisions throughout his career. As an individual, Jay-Z has strived to do his part for the global community, using his platform to spread awareness to social challenges, like he did in 2006 for the fight against the global water crisis. Alongside meeting UN Secretary-General Kofi to discuss the matter, he traveled to Angola and South Africa to film his documentary, “Diary of Jay-Z: Water for Life.” In 2008, he founded the Shawn Carter Foundation along with his mother, Dr. Gloria Carter, which has granted over $3 million in scholarships to underprivileged college students and recently fundraised $20 million at their NYC gala this past July to do more of the same. Through the company’s philanthropic arm, Team Roc, Jay-Z’s ability to facilitate tangible change in our communities has elevated it to an even greater level. Team Roc has inserted itself as a powerful entity in the fight for social justice and racial equity by showing up when it counts: bailing out protestors, providing education through documentaries like “Rest in Power: The Trayvon Martin Story, The Kalief Browder Story and Free Angela and All Political Prisoners” and supporting families impacted by police violence behind the scenes.
This exhibit also signifies an acknowledgment by this nation's academic institutions that hip-hop, both the culture and its practitioners, are of immense value to this society and should be celebrated and studied, just like any other art form. Though I am usually hesitant to seek validation from others, it is vital that this culture, whose influence reaches across the globe, receives its proper respect, especially when it isn’t always painted in the best light. “The Book of Hov” exhibit is an example of how such institutions can aid communities in their fight against the stereotypes surrounding one’s culture, so kudos to the Brooklyn Public Library for doing so. By allotting their resources in service to celebrating 50 years of hip-hop, they’ve shown how empowering communities and enriching our society through celebrations of art should go hand-in-hand. The library created 13 different versions of library cards celebrating the exhibit with artwork from each of his albums, as well as a special box set autographed by the legend himself, which will be auctioned off with the proceeds to support public libraries. According to the Brooklyn Public Library’s website, in just two months after its opening, over 14,000 NYC residents and counting have signed up for their first library card, and that’s a pretty big deal.
Even though a prestigious artist like Jay-Z was revered in my communities, growing up it was pretty common to hear people share mixed feelings about him. Whether it was because of his success as an artist and entrepreneur, his feud with Nas, contempt based on his years as a dope dealer, or any of the actions and beliefs detailed in his rhymes is unknown, but it seemed as though everyone had their own story about HOV. Though he isn’t perfect, and most certainly isn't above criticism, he is worthy of respect, and thanks to the Book of Hov, we can do just that. As Roc Nation’s co-founder and vice chairman Jay Brown described to Variety, “He leveraged his artistic genius to ascend heights that were previously unimaginable. The exhibit is a testament to JAY-Z setting a blueprint for the leaders of tomorrow to follow.” Whether you know him as Hov, Jigga, Shawn or Jay-Z, he is a living legend who deserves his flowers while he can smell them.