Jay Z opens up in Vanity Fair

EDITORS PLEASE NOTE: THIS EDIT CONTAINS MATERIAL WHICH WAS ORIGINALLY 4:3

Rapper Jay Z covers the November issue of Vanity Fair and opens up about his daughter, wife Beyonce and his drug-dealing past.

The native New Yorker told contributing editor Lisa Robinson he never realized the effects his drug dealing had on his community, saying: "I was thinking about surviving. I was thinking about improving my situation."

When it came to wife Beyonce, the rapper said he definitely pursued her, saying he had to dazzle and wine and dine her.

The couple are proud parents to 18-month-old daughter Blue Ivy, who Jay counts as his biggest fan.

The issue will be available on newsstands in New York and Los Angeles on October 3, and throughout the U.S. on October 9.