Taking Care of Business (Jay-Z Hits Collection Unveiling)

When I stepped into the Time Warner Center’s Samsung Experience for the launch of the Jay-Z Hits Collection on Wednesday, I was greeted by the perfect media marriage -- elegantly grainy photos of Jigga splashed across crisp Samsung screens. While the room filled up for the promised unveiling, a slide show of images restlessly shuffled alongside the boom of his greatest hits. We saw Jay thoughtfully pondering in an urban setting while hearing of his "Empire State of Mind;" Jay suited up in a white tux looking bored (was it just "Politics As Usual?"); Jay nestled in a private jet, sternly staring at something-or-other on a computer with Kanye (the definition of "Big Pimpin'"). I half-expected to catch a glimpse of Hov gleefully diving into a rolling sea of money and jewels, Scrooge McDuck-style, as an ironic counterpoint to "Hard Knock Life" -- but no such luck.

We’re all more than well acquainted with his hits, so I was wondering what there could really be to discuss. Turns out that Hot 97’s Missinfo was on-hand to walk us through the new site, JayZHitsCollection.com, that’s been launched in celebration of the album. The homepage is broken down by the famously progressive phases of his career: The Beginning, Marcy to Madison Square, Corporate Takeover, and I Run The Map (though, let’s be honest, “Damn Near the Whole World” might be a better descriptor). The site is impressively interactive and beautifully designed, intended as a “living museum” to Jay-Z's various accomplishments.

Users can share their thoughts on the man and his music via a feature called “Tweets is Watching” (that sound you just heard was a part of me dying inside), which will constantly update from all over the Internet. There’s also a coffee table book available for purchase (presumably brimming with the pensive pics) in a set that includes a copy of the album, which drops November 22. Missinfo mentioned a special release of 99 copies (OK, so that’s pretty clever) autographed by Mr. Carter himself, which likely sold out within seconds of her announcing them.

Though it will “compete” with insanely-anticipated outings like Nicki Minaj's Pink Friday and Kanye’s Dungeons and Dragons (wait, that’s not what it’s called?), something tells me Hova won’t be keeping too close of an eye on the numbers for this one. After all, in a sense the album’s already dropped, across his body of work -- and he’s probably too busy freeing up shelf space for his Pulitzer for Decoded, anyway.

Seriously, though, the event at the Samsung Experience was just that -- and a reminder that Jigga Man was not kidding when he memorably declared that he’s not a businessman -- he’s a business, man.

More About The Hits Collection

Want notices about places like these sent directly to your inbox? Sign up for the Hype NY newsletter right now below.