The Progress Report Podcast

19 year old rapper Lil Tim skips class with Lalaa Shepard of The Progress Report to speak about switching up his sound from just creating drill music, fans leaking his music, shares how he spent his first rap check, lack of support from other rappers and OGs, and plans for his upcoming deluxe edition of his new project, ‘Timmy’s Revenge’. 

Former NBA player Matt Barnes speaks with MikFlyy of The Progress Report at The Black Entertainment and Sports Lawyers Association (BESLA) in Atlanta, GA about his journey as a basketball player in college and professionally, learning to be a better person and father, the importance of protecting intellectual property, his podcast ‘All The Smoke’, and defines our keyword, “progress”. 

“Yal ain’t never seen nobody dance like Michael Jackson, sing like Boyz 2 Men, and play all instruments like Mint Condition” ~ 2BYG

18 and 19 year old artists Matt Brown, Nixx, KD, and Toure skip class with Lalaa Shepard of The Progress Report to speak about coming together back in High School in Fort Worth, Texas to form the group, 2BYG!

“Be the real raw you in what you feel you are no matter what people project on you” ~ Sexton 

Up close and raw interview with Perth, Australian artist Sexton, known for her songs “Space” with TK Kravitz, “Do 4 It” with Too Short, and “How” with Lil Got It. During the episode, Sexton details her 30+ hour and 3 planes travel to the states from her hometown to pursue her music career dreams, getting introduced to music and American music, pushing through doubt about her music career, independent artist grind, and her new single, “FTT” featuring Fat Trel!

The Progress Report media corespondent, MikFlyy, catches up with Grammy nominated actor and musician, Tristan Wilds at The Black Entertainment and Sports Lawyers Association (BESLA) in Atlanta, GA to speak about him growing up in Staten Island, New York, film roles, journey as a singer, and defines our keyword “progress”. 

Hot Boy Turk reflects on reuniting with his brothers for the Cash Money Millionaires concert tour, reflects on his previous projects, pays homage to the late Atlanta rapper Bankroll Fresh, and he defines our keyword “progress”. 

“A lot of times people think I’m turning up the younger generation but they really turning me up, giving me life all over again” ~ Zaytoven Super producer, Zaytoven and his first born son and artist ZAYSKII skip class with Lalaa Shepard of The Progress Report to speak about the gift and curse of being the child of a celebrity, how they learn from each other, their church backgrounds and sobriety influencing their music careers, clearing the OJ Da Juiceman “Wham Bam’ song sample for the viral “WHIM WHAMIEE” song, thoughts on Gucci Mane’s live orchestra event in ATL, album colla...

“This [RAP] sh*t done became an easy lay up to get a check, I’m not here for a check, I’ve been running paper up before this… this my art for real” ~ Belly Gang Kushington

Atlanta rapper, Belly Gang Kushington makes his debut on The Progress Report Podcast with hosts Lalaa Shepard and DJ eXeL to speak about growing up in a black household on the West side of Atlanta, opens up about abandonment issues stemming for his mother leaving him at birth, influenced musically by Young Dro, the first rapper signed to LVRN record label, ent...

Free from 106 & Park visits Coalition DJs New Music Monday’s event in ATL at Outkast’s studio and chats briefly with The Progress Report host, Lalaa Shepard, about 2025 being the 25th anniversary for Free & AJ of 106 & Park and exciting plans to celebrate their impact on the culture! 0:05 Free from 106 & Park visits Coalition DJs New Music Monday’s event in ATL at Outkast’s studio 2:40 106 & Park history 3:17 Free’s first visit at Outkast’s studio in ATL (Stankonia) 3:56 introduction 4:26 mental head space 4:58 Outkast has been inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and 5:48 DJs support 6:50 women in media 8:06 what does our key...

“The lawsuit brought us back together in a sense and that’s really how we stayed sane during the process” ~ OMG Girlz

Zonnique, Bahja, and Bre skip class with Lalaa Shepard to speak about forming the OMG Girlz in 2009, relationship status with former member Reginae Carter, ATL roots, creating age appropriate music, musical growth from their first single “Gucci This (Gucci That)” to their latest singles “Motion” and “Make A Scene”, now writing their own music, coming back together after lawsuit initiated, seeing Domani, King, and Messiah Harris become dad’s, learning directly from R&B group, Xscape, and plans fo...

“Im like a black hippy, very peaceful very chill” ~ Bash93 Tarell Basham AKA Bash93 skips class with Lalaa Shepard of The Progress Report to speak about getting into sports and being an athlete since a child, smoking weed with his mom openly as a teen, reflects on football career at Ohio University, NFL journey with Cincinnati Bengals, Dallas Cowboys, Colts, New York Jets, and Tennessee Titans, having to go through therapy after being depressed after NFL career ended, becoming a full-time artist, and plans for his upcoming TV show/ podcast. Website: https://linktr.ee/TheProgressReportMediaGroup Listen to us on the...

“During the time of us rehearsing (112), we would watch Jodeci, Boyz 2 Men, Blackstreet and we would say that was going to be us one day” ~ Q Parker of 112 Q Parker of the legendary R&B group 112 skips class with Lalaa Shepard of The Progress Report to speak about singing since age 4, discovering his voice at home with his mother, growing up COGIC in church, proud jock and scholar in High School, landing his record deal in the early 90s with Diddy, contract issues with 112 and eventually going solo, solo album ‘The MANual” which released in 2012, adjusting to the new era of m...

“Most rappers don’t make a lot of money… Being a rapper/ artist is like anybody else with a 9-5, you gon get what you put into that sh*t” ~ Wayno Music executive and content creator Wayno joins Lalaa Shepard, Boss Britt, and DJ eXeL for a new edition of Lunch Table Talk Presented by The Progress Report Podcast to speak about his Harlem and Bronx, NYC roots, recalls working in the mailroom of Roc-A-Fella Records starting his journey in the music business, formerly being a host on “Everyday Struggle” Podcast on Complex alongside Akademiks and Nadeska, learning directly from Coach K...

“My goal is to make music fun again in the A and just period” ~ Trinidad James Trinidad & Tobago born, Atlanta, GA raised artist, fashion designer, creative director, and song writer, Trinidad James skips class with Lalaa Shepard of The Progress Report to speak about his 13 year journey in the music industry, breaks down his new single “My Biggest Hater”, Covid experience and album flopping, putting 'Trinidad James music’ to the side for fashion, women basketball jacket collab, approving Bruno Mars sample, business deal with T.I.G. Records, writing songs for Cardi B, Offset, City Girls, Kevin Gates, Bhad Bhabie, de...

“I was 9 before I started writing my own verses” ~ Kai Ca$h

Brooklyn, NYC rapper Kai Ca$h skips class with Lalaa Shepard of The Progress Report to speak about his newly released project, ‘CASH RULES’, landing a record deal with Generation Now courtesy of DJ Drama and Don Cannon, making his first song at age 7, parents funding his clothing career at age 14, experience attending 2 HBCU’s, publishing a book while in college to help with anxiety, reflects on being around Junior Mafia as a youth and CYN music collective with King Combs and Niko Brim...

“This rap stuff has been our plan, we just didn’t know who it would be” ~ Baby Kia/ Day 1 Lil Willie

18 and 19 year old Atlanta, GA rappers Baby Kia and Day1 Lil Willie skip class with Lalaa Shepard of The Progress Report to speak about using music as therapy, YN misconceptions, no co-signs from major artists, support from Quavo (Migos), Bossman D Low, and Baby Drill, getting banned from performing at High Schools, getting inspiration from Gucci Mane and DMX, importance of DJs, and their most recent projects ‘Never Too Late’ and ‘KIA BOYZ’.

Tashera Simmons skips class with Lalaa Shepard of The Progress Report to speak about how she celebrated her recent 54th birthday, releasing her new book, ‘Dying To Self’ 4 years since its original release date, letting go of distractions by fasting cold turkey, learning forgiveness through therapy, overcoming abandonment issues, motherhood, relating to Lauren London and Nipsey Hussle’s love story, knowing DMX since age 11 and dating him at age 17, toxic marriage and divorce, the music industry tearing DMX to pieces, and releasing music after an artist passes away.

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Lalaa Shepard, Boss Britt, and DJ eXeL get together for a new edition of Lunch Table Talk presented by The Progress Report to speak about losing more rappers in Atlanta,

shady music business deals, backwards laws in America, Jazmine Cheaves and 600 Breezy love story goes left, Jacquees and Deiondra Sanders family drama, sobriety and more!

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“Being a rapper is one of the most dangerous jobs in the world… You gotta be on point at all times” ~ Montana 700

Montana 700 skips class with Lalaa Shepard of The Progress Report to speak about the new Dallas movement, hardest adjustment to fame, ‘700 Reasons’ project, sampling Mannie Fresh, family support, and plans for his upcoming album. 

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“F millions, let’s get billions together…” ~ DaphoDILL to Zaytoven

Hattiesburg, Mississippi artist DaphoDILL makes her return to Skipping Class with Lalaa Shepard of The Progress Report to speak about landing a distribution deal with Zaytoven, 2 albums, ‘My Suicide Letter’ & ‘Anomalous’, and getting out of the military after toxic experience.

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“Being a real n*gga ain’t regular, its rare” ~ Gorilla Zoe

“Its chess not checkers, you got to play the game” ~ Jass Clutch

Henderson, North Carolina artist Jass Clutch and Atlanta, GA’s own Gorilla Zoe skip class with Lalaa Shepard of The Progress Report to speak about their collab song, “Trap N*gga” which is a sample of Gorilla Zoe’s 2007 hit song, “Hood N*gga”. During the episode, Jass Clutch reflects on her journey to becoming a rapper after being a promoter, having features with Finesse2Tymes and Ralo, owners...

“I’ve always been working, its just figuring out the right formula… the public isn’t seeing you and what’s going on but all this time I've been correcting the recipe and having kids LOL” ~ Tiffany Evans

Songstress, actress, and writer, Tiffany Evans joins Lalaa Shepard, Boss Britt, and DJ eXeL for a new episode of The Progress Report Podcast where Tiffany opens up about her musical hiatus, living 9 lives after experiencing success and getting signed as a child star, being mishandled as a child with a powerful voice by her parents and music execs...

“I knew how to record before I knew how to rap” ~ Shad Da God

“Atlanta music scene always gon be lit but our artists have been damaged… Artists locked up, artists passed away, sh*t like that” ~ Jose Guapo

“We was the first YN’s” ~ Rich Kidz

Atlanta’s own Jose Guapo and Shad Da God skip class with Lalaa Shepard of The Progress Report to speak about Rich Kidz early beginnings and upcoming music and tour, being the original YN’s, smelling their flowers from the lik...

`“God don’t bless no mess” ~ FendiDa Rappa

Chicago rapper FendiDa Rappa joins Lalaa Shepard, Boss Britt, and DJ eXeL for a new episode of Lunch Table Talk presented by The Progress Report to speak on helping push the juke drill sound, relocating to Atlanta and dealing with aggrieve bugs, having an identical twin, being an openly gay rapper, bringing Cardi B to Chicago to film, “Point Me 2” music video, female rapper support and collabs with Glorilla, Mello Buckzz, Soulja Boy, and Shamar, plans for her upcoming album, and opens up about adjustments to fame!

“You can not be shy doing what we do” ~ King Jai

“You got to be a student at all times” ~ Mykko Montana

Barber, engineer, artist, and entrepreneur King Jai and the creator of the 2012 smash song, “Do It”, Mykko Montana, joins Lalaa Shepard for a new episode of Skipping Class presented by The Progress Report to speak about their buzzing single “Red Dip”, connecting with viral sensation Wenzl, provides tips to other independent artists on how to land sync placements and how to network, and Mykko opens up a severe health sc...

“A lot of people try to discredit artists for making it on TikTok, but a lot of artists have made it off Youtube or Soundcloud, its the same thing” ~ SleazyWorld Go

Midwest artist SleazyWorld Go joins Lalaa Shepard, Boss Britt, and DJ eXeL for a new episode of Lunch Table Talk presented by The Progress Report to speak about “Sleazy Flow” success, getting Lil Baby on the remix, pros and cons of being a rapper and signing to a major record label, dealing with social anxiety as a public figure, pulling millions of streams but not...

Ashlee Johnson, also known as Ms $29 Million, skips class with Lalaa Shepard of The Progress Report to speak about turning her pain into purpose with her ‘Street Widows Foundation’ and ‘Street Widows Podcast’ after tragically losing her husband to gun violence in Atlanta, navigating grief, raising 2 kids by herself, relating to widows such as Lauren London and Mia Jaye, thoughts on gun reform, being a TedX speaker, and plans for her upcoming book.

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We hate to report that Atlanta rapper Lotto Savage was murdered in his hometown. Here's our latest interview with Lotto from 2024.

Atlanta, GA artist Lotto Savage skips class with Lalaa Shepard of The Progress Report to speak about getting out of his record deal with Bases Loaded, originally being 21 Savage’s hype man and originally not supposed to be a rapper, blowing through his money, Travis Scott being the first person to play his song “Trapped It Out”, learning how to rap from 21 Savage, shares his thoughts on YFN Lucci and Young Thug arrests, speaks...

Lalaa Shepard, Boss Britt, and DJ eXeL join forces for a new edition of Lunch Table Talk presented by The Progress Report to speak about the do’s and don’t’s at listening events, Millennium Tour performances, Doechii saying heterosexual men are red flags, DDG and Halle Bailey parenting issues, Boosie has a new baby on the way with his longtime girlfriend, Claressa Shields and Remy Ma boxing battle over Papoose, Kash Doll and Tracy T go their separate ways.

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“You gotta put in a little extra work when you from Long Island cause we not a borough” ~ Chow Lee

Long Island artist Chow Lee skips class with Lalaa Shepard of The Progress Report to speak about being the sexiest n*gga alive, creating sexy drill music alongside his bro’s, Cash Cobain, and Bay Swag, breaks down his unique recording and writing process, recording himself at home, differences being signed vs being indie after landing record deal with Empire, Rolling Loud performances, ‘Girls Just Want To Have Fun’ sold out concert Valentine’s Day in New Y...

“Its ok to get help” ~ Glockianna

18 year old rapper Glockianna skips class with Lalaa Shepard of The Progress Report to speak about graduating High School at age 16, being raised by her grandparents and having an old soul, getting into rapping in school, growing up in a musical household, passion for crunk music, keeping the genre alive and paying homage to the OGs, overcoming depression and losing passion for music when music execs tried to change her, receiving support from female artists such as Gloss Up, K Carbon, and, Poison Ivi, and dream collabs.

“Being on reality TV makes you famous, not rich” ~ Nikki Natural

Miami, Florida artist and actress Nikki Natural skips class with Lalaa Shepard of The Progress Report to speak about how she balances motherhood while being a creative, her career getting affected by Covid, acting on BMF series and P Valley, dating life and more.

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“Being on reality TV makes you famous, not rich” ~ Nikki Natural

Miami, Florida artist and actress Nikki Natural skips class with Lalaa Shepard of The Progress Report to speak about how she balances motherhood while being a creative, her career getting affected by Covid, acting on BMF series and P Valley, dating life and more.

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“I done seen everybody but Tupac and Biggie” ~ Will Belefonte of Will Hustle TV

Will Belefonte of Will Hustle TV skips class with Lalaa Shepard of The Progress Report to speak about coming up doing street DVDs, being a concert promoter by trade, being ahead of his time making himself famous online before social media was poplar, plans to sell unreleased content for documentaries to create legacy to enhance the black community, growing up in Austin, Texas after his mom moved from Brooklyn, New York, distaste for the media game now, and plans for SXSW...

“Young black men don’t be lawless… but you gon manage your life based off what you have access to” ~ BEO Rush

BEO Rush, Selfmade Shark, Squally G, StingLikeABee, Lil Wildlife, YSL Fireboy, and Lil 9 all skip class with Lalaa Shepard of The Progress Report to speak out about coming from Louisiana except YSL Fireboy who proudly reps Harlem, New York, Louisiana’s crooked prison system, coping with deaths and tragedy, getting blamed for friends death, being influenced by Cash Money, maturing, connection to YSL, and fatherhood.

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“Falling back from being out of sight gets boring sometimes but you can’t just be everywhere cause you don’t earn your respect that way being too accessible” ~ YBS Skola

Baltimore artist YBS Skola skips class with Lalaa Shepard of The Progress Report to speak about catching a big break with his 2017 song “Shinning”, come up process and sacrifices with being a rapper, past run ins with the law, linking up with Atlanta rappers Lil Baby, YFN Lucci, and Hoodrich Pablo Juan, Baltimore’s music scene then and now, ‘I Need Love’ EP catered to the lad...

“Young black men don’t be lawless… but you gon manage your life based off what you have access to” ~ BEO Rush

BEO Rush, Selfmade Shark, Squally G, StingLikeABee, Lil Wildlife, YSL Fireboy, and Lil 9 all skip class with Lalaa Shepard of The Progress Report to speak out about coming from Louisiana except YSL Fireboy who proudly reps Harlem, New York, Louisiana’s crooked prison system, coping with deaths and tragedy, getting blamed for friends death, being influenced by Cash Money, maturing, connection to YSL, and fatherhood.

Swayvo Twain skips class with The Progress Report to speak about originally not wanting to do music because his parents did music, hardships of being a kid of celebs and making a name for himself as an artist, growing up with his grandparents as his parents were on the road during his childhood in Columbia, South Carolina, ’Articles of Swayvo Twain’ upcoming project, being the sexiest fat n*gga alive, and passion for acting.

H-Town to ATL! Underground legends Slim Thug and Propain sit down with Lalaa Shepard for a new edition of Skipping Class presented by The Progress Report to speak about their upcoming movie and project inspired by Houston culture titled, ’Double Cup” both releasing Spring 2025, both artists recall first meeting each other, run down their H-Town Mount Rushmore lists, discusses the importance of black ownership, collaborating with Beyonce, Young Dolph, Nipsey Hussle, Megan Thee Stallion, Rich Homie Quan, and not being affected by not receiving credit in the game for their contributions to the culture. 

Lalaa Shepard, Boss Britt, and DJ eXeL join forces for a new edition of Lunch Table Talk presented by The Progress Report to share their input on Detroit rapper Big Dank suing Lyft, Drake’s success without major label support and new album, Lil Durk’s wrongful death lawsuit, BMF potentially being canceled, rap beefs with Kash Doll and Asian Doll, and Alabama Barker and Bhad Bhabie.