A time capsule of Jay-Z's decorated career went on display at the Brooklyn Public Library in 2023, and the immersive exhibit turned into The Book of HOV: A Tribute to Jay-Z.
Posted by Assouline, The HOV book The coffee table book was released on Wednesday (December 4), which also happens to be Jay's 55th birthday.
The classic edition of the collectible is available for $120, while the ultimate edition will cost fans $2,000, with a portion of the proceeds going to the Brooklyn Public Library. The volume is filled with nearly 700 iconic images divided into eight chapters depicting different pillars of Jay-Z's artistry, along with personal essays written by those who know the Roc Nation mogul best.
One of those legendary images from Jay's career is his induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, since he became the first solo rapper to be inducted into the HoF as part of the class of 2021. But it hasn't exactly been a smooth ride from when Mr. Carter received the induction call to take the stage at the ceremony to give a moving acceptance speech.
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame President John Sykes went to great lengths to convince Hov to make the trip to Cleveland and Bulletin board can exclusively reveal his moving essay as a quote from Tthe Book of HOV.
Sykes recalled Jay pleading, “The Rock is dead. Rap is the new rock!” He spent the next half hour explaining how six of the first 10 artists in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame were black, and there would be no rock and roll without black artists.
“My last words, as I begged Jay to come to Cleveland to receive his award, were that rock n' roll isn't just any sound, it's gumbo,” he wrote. “To paraphrase the great Barry Gordy, rock and roll created the sound of young America. It's a spirit, and the spirit of hip-hop and rap connected rock and roll to a whole new generation.”
Sykes was in the dark and didn't hear from Hov until Jay-Z and his family showed up in Cleveland on October 30, 2021, and the president could breathe a sigh of relief. The rapper's intro video featured star-studded cameos from his wife Beyoncé, LeBron James, Rihanna, Chris Rock, Usher, Rick Ross, Dave Letterman and his daughter Blue Ivy.
Introduced by Dave Chappelle, Jay-Z took the stage and moved the room with his speech detailing his journey from the Marcy Projects to mogul status while paying tribute to the legends who paved the way before him.
Read the full excerpt below.
The Book of HOV: A Tribute to Jay-Z
There have been few times in my years in the music industry where I have witnessed a
unique moment that changed popular culture forever. Being in the room when we started
MTV on August 1, 1981 was one of them. On the evening of October 30, 2021, in Cleveland,
Ohio was another.
The occasion was the 36th Rock & Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony in a sold-out sports venue
arena in Cleveland, just below the historic Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Museum. The museum was established to honor those artists whose original sounds created and promoted the development of Rock and Roll music and had a profound impact on culture. Gathered backstage that night was a who's who of music and the arts, from Paul McCartney to Taylor Swift, Dave Chappell, Angela Bassett, Jennifer Hudson, Eminem, Lionel Richie, Keith Urban, Drew Barrymore, Jennifer Lopez and others. All had traveled to Cleveland from around the world to introduce and honor the Class of 2021 inductees which included: LL Cool J (the original GOAT), Tina Turner, Clarence Avant, The GoGo's, The Foo Fighters, Billy Preston, Charley Patton, Carole King, Gil Scott-Heron, Kraftwerk, Fela Kuti, Todd Rundgren, Randy Rhoads and JAY-Z.
I had just been named the third President in the history of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, which was founded in 1986. It was a dream job for me, as a lifelong music fanatic. I accepted the position with a promise and a vision. to honor the original mission of the Hall, which was to recognize artists who, regardless of race, gender or style, have contributed to the continued growth and spirit of Rock & Roll music. Rock & Roll was born in 1955 not from a single sound, but a collision of Rhythm & Blues, Gospel and Country, and continues to evolve as new artists and sounds are created.
Artists spend their entire careers hoping to one day be inducted into the Hall of Fame. It is a rare honor. The day the '21 inductees were announced, I personally called my longtime friend JAY Z to tell him the good news. We had worked together for over two decades during my time at MTV, VH1, iHeartRadio and as a board member of the New York charity, the Robin Hood Foundation. I was beyond excited as JAY had made the coveted '21 inductee list in his first year of eligibility, a rare feat. And, while the Hall of Fame has previously inducted great rappers like Grandmaster Flash, Public Enemy and NWA, JAY stood out. Not only was he the best rapper of his time, but he was now an icon for bringing Hip Hop into the mainstream, as well as becoming a highly successful business executive and a beacon of culture.
This was exactly the direction I envisioned the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame going. However, JAY's response to my good news was not exactly what I expected. “The Rock is dead,” he said. “Rap is the new Rock.” For the next 30 minutes I explained to him that “Rock” is not “Rock & Roll”. Yes, it's an important part, but it's only a part. In fact, six of the first ten artists inducted into the Hall of Fame were Black: James Brown, Fats Domino, Ray Charles, Chuck Berry, Sam Cooke and Little Richard. The following year, Aretha Franklin, Marvin Gaye and Bo Diddley were recruited. Without Black artists there would be no Rock & Roll.
My last words, as I begged JAY to come to Cleveland to receive his award, were that Rock & Roll is not just any sound, it's gumbo. To paraphrase the great Barry Gordy, Rock & Roll created the sound of young America. It's a spirit and the spirit of Hip Hop and Rap connected Rock & Roll to a whole new generation.
Then we waited.
On the afternoon of October 30, JAY-Z arrived in Cleveland with his family and team. After a moving induction video featuring “A-list” pop culture icons, including a former President of the United States, Dave Chappelle took the stage to deliver a powerful induction speech. He then invited JAY up to accept his statue. What followed was a speech for the ages. Just as Little Richard, Chuck Berry, Bob Dylan, Aretha Franklin, Bruce Springsteen or Paul McCartney had said before him, JAY told the 16,000 people in the room and millions more watching on television, his history of being rejected by record companies. who called his music “trash” and how he refused to compromise, never giving in to conventional wisdom. Jay looked at his colleague LL Cool J and gave him his admiration and thanks. He then concluded his impassioned speech by holding his statue high in the air proclaiming, “Now THAT's Rock & Roll.”
The crowd roared. JAY smiled and walked off the stage and towards the exit, knowing that he had accomplished his mission of recognizing rap as a true force in music and culture, while also opening the door for the next generation of dreamers and music creators to come. . in his footsteps and continue to honor and evolve the attitude, spirit and many sounds of Rock & Roll.
John Sykes
President, Rock & Roll Hall of Fame
from our partners at https://www.billboard.com/music/rb-hip-hop/jay-z-rock-hall-induction-book-of-hov-excerpt-john-sykes-1235844188/
