Quotes from Lil Durk

I been living down in Atlanta, but everyone back home has been in my thoughts, especially those doing something for the community and all the neighborhood heroes. I thought about all the first responders putting their lives on the line to help out and it inspired me, so I took a jet back to Chicago to show my thanks.

I would say I grew without a doubt. My whole energy in life - as an artist and as a person - has definitely got me smarter and wiser.

I grew up without a father, so I have to be on point for my kids.

I made 'LS4TS2' for women, my Day 1's, the trenches, and all those that doubted me.

Once upon a time, I was really lost. I was 18 going on 19, and I was shy. All I want to do is get money, and the way I was thinking I was going to do that was a negative route.

I never thought I would see the outside of Chicago.

Stay working. Stay busy. It should be motivation instead of down time because down time is like being depressed. It shouldn't be like that. It should really be motivation to keep going.

I'm a good guy at the end of the day, you know what I'm saying? A lot of people will believe what they see in the media from a long time ago. I'm just growing as an artist and as a person.

I just want to paint that picture of Chicago that everybody's missing, and I just want to rap about it.

I was 17 when I first started rapping and 18 before I started taking it seriously - when I really knew I could rap and have fans and be a trendsetter.

Rapping is my dream, but my kids make me happy.

I think every artist should go for a Grammy.

'L's,' it represents life. That's what I represent it as, life. When you throw the L's up for life, you can't go wrong. Like, no gang-banging, nothing like that.

I don't throw shade at anybody like, 'You sound like me.'

Bone Thugs is one of my favorite rap groups of all time. I listened to them all the time when I was a kid.

I've been with Def Jam Records for five years and they gave me my first recording contract so for that I'm forever grateful.

I worked with Ty Dolla Sign, YG, Nipsey Hussle, Metro Boomin - I build relationships, and I try to stay afloat with everyone who is hot or cool, period.

I was 17 and out of school, living with my mom, starving, not eating, getting locked up, no focus, no guidance. When you ain't got no guidance, you can't do too much. But then I had my first son and started working. I got the right people around me.

What really broke it down was I had my son while I was locked up, so that really affected me. I can't really have this, knowing my father was locked up when I was small. So that really out of everything - through the fame, the money, everything - that really put the toll on me: 'Oh yeah, I gotta change.'

I want to relate. I don't want to just rap and go to the next album.

I ain't expect it. I just expected to be Chicago famous - 'hood famous. I ain't expect to be outside-of-Chicago famous.

We came from nothing really. One house. Ten people. Even days the lights was off. The worst days was not eating. Surviving off rice and toast.

I don't wish jail on nobody, not even my worst enemies.

I'm always going to be able to touch fans and get new fans because everybody goes through something everyday. I just keep touching different subjects by talking to the streets and reaching out to my fans by telling them a story instead of just giving them music to listen.