Meek Mill Opens Up About Jail, His Relationship With Nicki Minaj & Competing Against Jay Z [VIDEO]

Three months after being released from jail for violating his parole, Meek Mill is ready to mark his return to the rap game. The Philly spitfire graces the cover of XXL Magazine’s Spring 2015 issue along with his Maybach Music Group boss Rick Ross.

In an in-depth interview, the "Amen" rapper reflects on his time away in jail, his new album and his blossoming romance with Nicki Minaj, whose Pinkprint Tour he'll join this spring.

The "B Boy" rhymer also opens up about the MC he feels is his biggest competition. His answer is a surprising one.

Check out some of the highlights below. The Spring 2015 issue of XXL Magazine, featuring cover stars Meek Mill and Rick Ross, is on newsstands now.

On what he learned during his time in jail:
"Being that I went to jail and came back, I went through a whole new experience in life. I went from being at the top to back down at the bottom again. In jail, you get stripped of your freedom and everything, so I experienced different things, learned more. It basically brought most of my hunger back, because I was living the life, having fun all day every day. I really didn’t know what it was like to be hungry no more. I still had it, but not where jail put me at. And before I went to jail, I was being a little wild. So you know, it slowed me down, gave me enough time to think."

On his romance with Nicki Minaj:
"Yeah, that’s my baby right there. S--- real."

On what fans can expect on his Dreams Worth More Than Money album:
"I ain’t drop an album since I was 25. I rap way better. I’ve experienced way more. I just came from jail. I made sure I read a whole lot, smartened up and learned more. You know, I’m just next level Meek Mill. I sound like me, but just on another level."

On who Meek Mill thinks is his biggest competition:
"Jay Z. All I want to do is get money like that level right there. And not even just him, like all those guys, Puffy, all them. Me and Puff was arguing at this event. He was trying to tell me about some money, I was like, 'Puff, I’ma have money like you.' Puff was like, 'I don’t know what you talking about, you don’t get money like me,' [and] I’m like, 'I’ma get money like you.'"