SMJ First-Ever Interview: “Pleasure To Meet You,” PLUTO & Anycia Features, Jeezy Sample + ATL Roots

SMJ First-Ever Interview: “Pleasure To Meet You,” PLUTO & Anycia Features, Jeezy Sample + ATL Roots

Author: REVOLT August 17, 2026 Duration: 17:10
Atlanta rising artist SMJ joins Lalaa Shepard for her first-ever interview on a new episode of Skipping Class presented by The Progress Report! The 22-year-old Westside Atlanta native introduces the world to who she is as an artist and breaks down her new project, Pleasure To Meet You, which she describes as her proper introduction to the world. SMJ reflects on performing since the age of 3, beginning to rap at 6 years old, the support of her family, and growing into her own sound as part of Atlanta’s new generation of artists. SMJ also speaks on being influenced by Atlanta artists including YFN Lucci, Young Thug and Rich Kidz, sampling Rich Kidz and being embraced by OGs from the city. She discusses keeping Pleasure To Meet You authentic to Atlanta through collaborations with PLUTO and Anycia, including the story behind creating her Jeezy-sampled record with PLUTO. During the conversation, SMJ clears up whether she and Anycia are actually related, speaks on another record sampling Bow Wow and Omarion’s “Let Me Hold You,” and addresses “industry plant” comments head-on. She explains why her success comes down to years of hard work, dedication and consistency and shares how she has learned to handle negativity on social media without allowing it to distract her. SMJ also reflects on navigating the music industry at only 22 years old, learning the game from her mother and aunts, gives advice to other young women pursuing their goals, shows love to her day-one supporters, and defines what the word “progress” means to her. Pleasure To Meet You is available now on all streaming platforms. Watch, comment, subscribe and let us know your favorite moment from SMJ’s first-ever interview! Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tharealsmjj/ https://www.instagram.com/lalaashep/ https://www.instagram.com/theprogressreport101/ https://www.instagram.com/tprmediagroup1/ Website: https://TPRMediaGroup.com Listen to us on Apple Podcasts https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-progress-report-podcast/id1494070183 Listen to us on Spotify Podcasts https://open.spotify.com/show/5sBgF6wWa7NmHraP2QuBEv?si=a0f5f19b8a494fb5 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Atlanta's streets have a rhythm, and The Progress Report Podcast from REVOLT moves directly to that beat. This isn't about surface-level coverage; it's a deep, ongoing conversation about the forces driving hip-hop forward. Each episode acts as a direct line to the creators, entrepreneurs, and newsmakers who are actively building the culture from the ground up. You'll hear unfiltered interviews that go beyond the music to explore the business decisions, the entrepreneurial hustle, and the real stories that rarely make the headlines. The focus is on impact, not just influence, providing a platform where underground talent and established voices meet on equal footing. By documenting these journeys and amplifying perspectives from the core of the scene, this podcast offers a genuine progress report on where the culture is and where it's headed next. Tune in for those raw conversations that connect the dots between the art, the industry, and the community that sustains it all.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 50

The Progress Report Podcast
Podcast Episodes