Brooklyn Nets’ new logo, designed by Jay-Z

Here’s the Brooklyn Nets’ new logo, designed by Jay-Z

Formerly known as the New Jersy Nets, the images and icons launching the new look of the newly rebooted Brooklyn Nets.

The surprise was mitigated a bit (or perhaps spoiled completely, depending on your view of things) by advance shots of the probable (and now confirmed) logo tweeted by someone allegedly doing IT work in the Nets' new home at the Barclays Center, and by pictures of Brooklyn Nets swag on sale in a Manhattan clothing store tweeted Friday by Uni Watch and posted by The Basketball Jones. But now it's all official. These are the logos, as shared by Ben Couch of Nets.com. Bask in their black-and-white glory.

The primary logo — that far-left, blacked-out shield with "NETS" and a B-emblazoned basketball in the crest, zealously called "the new badge of Brooklyn" by a very optimistic Nets CEO Brett Yormark — was designed by part-owner and hip-hop legend Jay-Z, one of the most famous and successful musicians ever to come out of Brooklyn. Based on the gear available for purchase at the Nets' team store, the team seems to be leaning pretty hard on hip-hop references in an attempt to tether the team to Brooklyn's rap history. To Wit:

• Multiple "Hello Brooklyn" shirts, a shoutout to "B-Boy Bouillabaisse" from the Beastie Boys' 1989 classic "Paul's Boutique."

• A wood sign that reads "Sure Shot," referencing the popular track off the Beasties' 1994 record "Ill Communication."

• Shirts referencing "Brooklyn Go Hard," Jay-Z's 2008 hit with Kanye West and Rihanna.

• A shirt trumpeting "THE BKLYN WAY," a shout to a line from legendary Brooklyn rapper The Notorious B.I.G.'s first hit, 1994's "Juicy."

• And my personal favorite of the rap references, a piece that namechecks "Brooklyn's Finest," the classic third track on Jay's 1996 album "Reasonable Doubt," on which he joined with Biggie to form a tandem they famously claimed would make enemies "[poop] their drawers."