Meek Mill Writes A Letter To His Younger Self

Landing on the cover of XXL’s Fall issue, Meek Mill writes a letter to his younger self. Different from most magazine’s way of doing cover stories, Meek Mill took the opportunity to write to his younger self-advice about being level-headed, his rise to fame, recounts the advice OGs have told him, the criminal justice system and how’d he soon be affected by his decisions, hardships and more.

Read a snippet of the letter below.

To Robert Rihmeek Williams:

Life is about to get very real for you. Like, beyond your dreams and nightmares. I’m writing you from 2018 because I need you to be very present in 2006. I need you to focus on the weight of your talent and how it aligns with your purpose. I know, right now, life is tough, but you have to believe me when I say it’s only temporary. You will not be a victim of your circumstance. Your struggles are just building you a greater tomorrow. You were gifted the skill to communicate to the masses. You are here to inspire, awaken and motivate the generations to come. Understand that the real dreaming begins when you are clear about where you are going. You can’t chase dreams without a vision.

My question to you, Meek, is: Are you willing to travel those rocky roads towards your throne? Most importantly: Are you sure you want this responsibility?

Like our old heads used to say, “Heavy is the head that wears the crown.” It’s free to dream but nothing is more expensive than achieving them. I repeat: Nothing is more expensive than achieving your dreams. Trust, you will get yours. You will set the rap game on fire. What if I told you that you will record with Mariah Carey? Or that you’ll buy a Ferrari after coppin’ the Rolls Royce? That fly shit is cool but you wanna know what tops it all? Mom never having to worry about money again because you believed in yourself. The countless times she risked it all to feed you and Nasheema won’t be in vain. But I can’t stress enough how much it costs to be a young leader. Costs even more to be a young Black leader.

….

You are a real one. That makes you a rare one. Know that real ones will always be the minority. The fake ones, forever the majority. You’re also a survivor. It’s your job to show poor Black kids from 12th street to Compton how to go hard for their rights—also that being broke isn’t a life sentence. And while you’re lifting your generation out of the bottom, never forget that you once lived there—or those hunger pains. Always remember how to fight for food. I don’t care if it’s a prosecutor or a chart-topping rapper coming at your neck, don’t ever back down. You were put here to win and lead others to victory.

You can read the letter in its entirety over at XXL.