G Herbo made a career out of rapping about the dangers of Chicago street life, and now he’s reflecting on how important it was to leave that life behind.

During an interview with XXL, Herbo spoke about growing up with violence around him, but knowing there was always a way out. According to the Chicago native, he always knew he was special despite all the negativity that was around him at the time.

It wasn’t an easy life for him as Herbo’s own family was involved in all the negativity, but that didn’t stop him from making a life for himself outside of the streets.

“I always knew I was special,” the rapper told XXL. “It was just my environment. The circumstances that I was up against that made me make certain decisions. It was always hope for me. I knew that I was gon’ make something of myself.

“When I used to go visit my aunt house, all they really did was gangbang and sell drugs and shit. Don’t get me wrong, it was family vibes, but that’s what I was exposed to. At my grandmother house, she liked to gamble. Her crib was like a party spot, a gambling spot. They played cards all night.”

He continued: “But when you a kid, they not really paying attention to us observing everything that’s going on around. Referring to the birds and bees, I never had those conversations with my parents growing up. It just happened naturally. I was exposed to that type of stuff early.”

G Herbo explained he changed his mindset to focus on Hip Hop and not the streets by removing himself from the equation and only putting his sights on his dreams and aspirations.

“I disassociated myself with the streets and with the outside world, I wasn’t engaged with nothing other than chasing my dreams,” Herbo added. “I believe in God, so when I have those moments where I feel chills or I have those deep thoughts. My calling, my destiny. I believe in that type of stuff, I wanted to focus on solely being a rapper. I took a flying leap of faith and I really did it.”

Herbo is coming off the release of his double-sided Survivor’s Remorse album, which arrived in October 2022 with features from Jeremih, Offset, Future, Young Thug, Kodak Black, Conway The Machine, Gunna, Benny The Butcher and more.

During a conversation with Eddie Francis on New Music Daily on Apple Music 1, G Herbo explained why he used a release strategy that included two sides of the album. According to the 27-year-old, he was inspired by his desire for fans to sit with the music before getting any new material.

“I want the fans to be able to live with the music for a second,” Herbo said. “I want them to be able to consume the A side and then, Monday, get to [the] B side. When you actually put them together though, it syncs.

“It’s still one through 25, they still sync. But I want to start a conversation with my fans, like, ‘Alright, I like the A side, I like the B side,’ you feel what I’m saying? I intentionally wanted to start that conversation.”