[When I made the class], my lawyer known as me. He’s like, ‘I’m an XXL Freshman.’ I’m like, ‘Who?’ I didn’t even know who bro was speaking about, calling me, speaking about he’s one. He’s like, ‘You, my man. You received.’ It make me really feel good as a result of I do know it ain’t a variety of ni**as from my jurisdiction or the place I’m from on this sh*t like that. I don’t even assume no one from Stockton ever did no sh*t like that.

[On the way to the XXL cover shoot], we was driving for like 20 hours… [Editor’s note: Before he was arrested in Arkansas on two counts of possession of a controlled substance, one count of criminal use of a prohibited weapon and one count of theft by receiving]. A ni**a was disenchanted, but it surely may have been worse. I achieved been in worse conditions, and in my coronary heart, I do know I used to be on my solution to go do one thing productive. So, it’s like, can’t nothing break my spirit, for actual.

God at all times discover a solution to get a ni**a by means of the door. I’m nonetheless doing it. I really feel like I completed that drive. My coronary heart real, so I simply know nothing going to cease this a part of my life.

[I was excited for] the freestyle and simply with the ability to depart Stockton as a result of I ain’t by no means been nowhere, for actual. So, it was actually simply to depart. Like, as soon as a ni**a not noted of Cali, simply stress off a ni**a’s shoulder, muthaf**kas not asking you for sh*t. I used to be actually leaving extra for the expertise as a result of it’s a variety of muthaf**kas that ain’t right here to see it or right here to expertise it with a ni**a. So, I really feel prefer it’d be egocentric of me to not make the most of the chance.

Despite the fact that a ni**a acquired all these obstacles in his life—going to jail, dropping individuals and sh*t—nonetheless, it’s like a ni**a not getting the quick finish of the stick. I’m nonetheless carrying out sh*t. [Being a Freshman is important for me] to indicate ni**because it’s doable as a result of a ni**a got here from nothing. A ni**a extremely got here from nothing. So, for individuals to choose me out of all them individuals, that’s what make a ni**a cherish it.

I like my followers [for voting me into the XXL Freshman 10th Spot]. I rock with my followers like they rock for me. So, that’s why they help a ni**a like that. I don’t act bougie. I ain’t by no means switched it up. It’s like they watching my story. They seeing the elevation. I really feel like they only wanna stick to me to see the place my story go and I’ll f**ok with them for that, on my useless brother. That’s tight.

[When my fans see me on the cover], they gon’ go loopy as a result of they’re going to be like, ‘Ni**a nonetheless made that muthaf**ka from jail.’ I used to be imagined to do the YoungBoy By no means Broke Once more tour, and since a ni**a in jail, a ni**a can’t try this. You understand, mechanically, when a ni**a go down, they considering it’s over. So, as soon as they see a ni**a nonetheless on right here, it’s like, Yeah, don’t depend a ni**a out. A ni**a making historical past, useless homies.”—Joey Echevarria