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My son Christian poses at the Book of Hov exhibit. Photo by Leon Laing.

My son Christian, friend Darian and I visited the Book of Hov exhibit at the Brooklyn Library on Oct. 6. That same week (Oct. 2) Jay-Z and his mother, Dr. Gloria Carter, were honored at the library.

Going back to Brooklyn felt nostalgic because I used to visit there as a child, and I’m linked to some Brooklynites. I knew Biggie, and I’m acquaintances with dream hampton and April Walker. I met Spike Lee.

I’ve been listening to Jigga, also a Brooklyn native, since day one.

We didn’t have YouTube back then, so I’d discover new music videos by watching Yo! MTV Raps and Rap City. These videos include 1989’s “Hawaiian Sophie” 1990’s “The Originators” and 1993’s “Can I Get Open.” Since then, I’ve watched Jigga graduate from a rapid-fire lyricist to a billionaire/philanthropist. My younger brother Jamaal, who used to watch those videos with me and my older brother Marvin, met Jay-Z.

I’ve seen Hov perform twice in my home state of Pennsylvania (Hershey and State College).

One of the photos I took at the Book of Hov is a flyer from the Free Meek Gathering in Philadelphia on Aug. 6, 2019. When I arrived at the event that day, I missed Meek’s speech. But I started a business relationship with REFORM Alliance. Jay-Z and Meek are some of the co-founders of REFORM. REFORM affiliate and local clothing designer Jeanine Harbin met Jay-Z.

The Book of Hov runs through Dec. 4.