Brooklyn’s own JAY-Z just added another W to his already legendary legacy, and this time, it’s in the world of rare books. A limited-edition, autographed copy of The Book of HOV: A Tribute to JAY-Z just sold for a jaw-dropping $163,800 at Christie’s auction house, Black Enterprise reports. Yes, you read that right, more than the cost of a Brooklyn brownstone back in the ‘90s.

One of only five copies in existence, this ultra-exclusive book was born from the wildly popular “Book of HOV” exhibit at the Brooklyn Public Library, which took over the borough from July to December 2023. The show pulled fans deep into Hov’s three-decade reign with never-before-seen photos, iconic outfits, rare interviews, awards, and other treasures straight from the Roc Nation vaults.

Created in collaboration with Roc Nation, luxury publisher Assouline, and artist Daniel Arsham, the special edition came with a sleek tri-fold design tucked inside a bronze slipcase that looks like it belongs in a modern art museum. Inside, 432 pages and nearly 700 images told the story of the kid from Marcy Projects who became a billionaire cultural icon.

While fans snatched up the Classic Edition for $120 and the Ultimate Edition for $2,000, this rare collector’s piece was on a whole different level. Clearly, someone with deep pockets and impeccable taste in hip-hop history couldn’t let it slip away. All proceeds went to benefit the Brooklyn Public Library. 

And while JAY-Z has been busy running his many ventures and making surprise appearances at Beyoncé’s Cowboy Carter Tour, the streets are still buzzing about whether he’ll bless the world with new music, or even take over the Super Bowl halftime stage. No official word yet, but if history tells us anything, Hov knows how to keep us on our toes.

From the stage to the page, the Book of HOV proves one thing: JAY-Z isn’t just part of history, he’s making it, one record, one deal, and now, one epic auction at a time.

Cover photo: Jay-Z’s Limited Edition ‘Book of HOV’ Tribute Sells for $163K at Christie’s Auction/Photo credit: Michael Tran/AFP/Getty Images