XXL‘s Fall 2019 issue features a double cover shared by Lil Baby and Juice Wrld. For Lil Baby’s XXL interview, the rap star returned to his old stomping grounds in Oakland City in Atlanta, where he chilled in the streets before becoming a rapper.

In between riding all-terrain vehicles through the streets and greeting the people in the neighborhood, Baby spoke candidly about his friendship with Young Thug and fatherhood

Baby credits Thugger for pushing him to leave the street life and become a rapper.

“Young Thug, he gave me all the jewels,” Baby shares. “He literally paid me to leave the neighborhood. [He said], ‘Bruh you can rap, you got it. You could be next. You gotta leave the ’hood… I’ma pay you to come to the studio.'”

He also details a time when he posted a snippet on Instagram of one of the earlier songs he recorded, and Gucci Mane commented, “I’ma sign him.” “And Thug was like, ‘He already signed to me.’ And then from then on, I just start like every day, I ain’t stop. I’m here now”

The “Drip Too Hard” rapper hasn’t looked back since.

Elsewhere in the interview, Lil Baby opens up about being a father to his two sons—4-year-old Jason, who was right beside his rapping dad during the interview, and 8-month-old Royalty. The 24-year-old rapper knows how important it is to be a positive role model in his children’s lives.

“My ultimate goal is my son, and a lot of other kids, to not have to grow up the way I grew up,” he tells XXL. “I just give them a different outlook on something. I want to let them know they can have this much fun by doing something legal like me rapping for instance. Not just being able to show them a negative lifestyle [but] just to show them the positives.”

Baby added that he wants his sons to view him as the greatest dad in the world.

“I want to be a superhero dad to where my kid feel like everything I do is nothing wrong,” he says. “He just wants to not be like me, but he so much like me that he becomes better than me. I just want to be that to my children. The ultimate father.”

“Even if I didn’t have the money, or whatever, you know what I’m sayin’, I still want to be Superman to my children,” the Harder Than Ever artist adds.

Watch XXL‘s full video interview below. The XXL Fall 2019 issue, featuring Lil Baby and Juice Wrld on the cover, is on newsstands now.

XXL

See Photos From Lil Baby’s Fall 2019 XXL Magazine Cover Shoots

Lil Baby

Lil Baby

Styled by Michael Comrie with co-stylist Adam Morales

Polo Ralph Lauren trench coat, Thierry Lasry sunglasses, Jewelry artist’s own

Marni Mohair Cardigan, Rhude T-Shirt

Martine Rose T-shirt

Brain Dead Hoodie and Overalls, No.Liste Sneakers

Martine Rose T-shirt

Last Heavy Hoodie

Brain Dead Hoodie

Polo Ralph Lauren trench coat

Vintage Punk Jacket, Descontrol; Jewelry Artist’s Own

Polo Ralph Lauren trench coat

Last Heavy Hoodie and Pants

Polo Ralph Lauren trench coat

Ahmed Klink for XXL