Jay Z Covers Vanity Fair

Decked out in white suit and tie, Shawn Carter aka Jay Z took front and center for Vanity Fair’s November issue. Said to be his ”most revealing interview ever,” editor Lisa Robinson covered topics such as his childhood, the 2008 election of Barack Obama, the skills gained in drug dealing, his relationship with Beyoncé and whether little baby Blue prefers mum’s music or his. Read a few excerpts below and head over here for the full cover story.

On drug dealing:

I know about budgets. I was a drug dealer. To be in a drug deal, you need to know what you can spend, what you need to re-up. Or if you want to start some sort of barbershop or car wash—those were the businesses back then. Things you can get in easily to get out of [that] life. At some point, you have to have an exit strategy, because your window is very small; you’re going to get locked up or you’re going to die.

On Beyonce:

She was a good girl ’til she knew me. She’s gangsta now.

On Blue Ivy’s music tastes:

She watches [Beyoncé’s concerts] on the computer every night. But my album came out and I don’t know if Blue ever heard any of my music prior to this album—she’s only 18 months old and I don’t play my music around the house. But this album was new, so we played it. And she loves all the songs.

She’s my biggest fan. If no one bought the Magna Carta [album], the fact that she loves it so much, it gives me the greatest joy. And that’s not like a cliché. I’m really serious.