Some of my best songs were never released as singles. It's difficult to pick 14 songs that define who I am. To be honest, I've avoided doing this type of project. In the opening acknowledgement, Carter wrote: The inside album sleeve contains a booklet with photos of Jay-Z throughout his career, song descriptions, as well as an opening acknowledgment from Jay-Z himself. The front packaging of the album cover features Jay-Z's signature diamond hands, which are a reference to his fifth studio album The Dynasty: Roc La Familia. The Hits Collection, Volume One was Jay-Z's first greatest hits album to be released by Roc Nation, and is the only greatest hits album to be released so far in his career. The album features four tracks from The Black Album, three from The Blueprint 3 and one from each of Jay's other solo albums dating back to Vol. Although greatest hits compilations of Jay-Z have been released internationally before, this was the first of its kind to be released in the United States, in which it was released in a standard edition, deluxe edition, collector's edition box set as well as a 3-disc deluxe vinyl. It was released on November 22, 2010, by Def Jam Recordings and Roc Nation. The Hits Collection, Volume One is a greatest hits album by American rapper Jay-Z.