Derez De’Shon Breaks Down ‘I’m Not Ok But…’ Deluxe, Becoming a Grandpa & Remembers Rich Homie Quan

“Im just like my fans… I cry like you cry” ~ Derez De’Shon Southside Atlanta artist Derez De’Shon returns to The Progress Report’s Skipping Class for his second interview with Lalaa Shepard, four years after their first conversation in 2022. As The Progress Report celebrates its 10-year anniversary, Derez opens up about the experiences, losses, growth, and vulnerability behind his latest release, I’m Not Ok But… (Deluxe Version). Derez reflects on taking a much-needed hiatus from music and explains why stepping away was necessary for him to regain confidence in releasing music and address his mental health. He speaks candidly about dealing with depression and mental health struggles since childhood, survivor’s guilt, pain, suicidal thoughts, and the difficulty of losing people he once leaned on during his darkest moments. He also discusses slowing down on drugs, struggling with self-forgiveness, and why being vulnerable with his fans has become such an important part of his music. Derez also revisits the success of his breakout record “Hardaway,” including the story behind breaking his plaque and why nobody prepared him for the emotional highs and lows that came with having a hit record. Looking back, he explains how reaching a new level of success changed some of the people around him and shares the lessons he now passes along to other artists, including the mistakes he made by keeping too many people around. During the conversation, Derez defines success on his own terms as finding peace within himself and shares why his children are a major source of that peace. He also reveals that he became a grandfather to four grandchildren around the same time and speaks about watching his family continue to grow. Derez breaks down records from I’m Not Ok But… (Deluxe Version), including “Thoughts Of You” featuring Sy Ari Da Kid, which he says was originally inspired by Summer Walker and produced by London on da Track. He also talks about making music about complicated relationships, putting women’s names in songs, and continuing to embrace the “pain music” label while viewing his music as confessional. The conversation also includes a heartfelt reflection on the late Rich Homie Quan. Derez discusses having unreleased music with Quan and looks back on our 2022 interview, which took place after Derez performed at Quan’s 10-year anniversary concert. Looking ahead, Derez says he plans to remain consistent with new music and reveals plans to release another pain-driven project around Valentine’s Day, inspired in part by heartbreak and the experience of watching someone he still has feelings for move on. He closes by showing love to the day-one fans who have continued supporting him throughout every phase of his journey. Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/derezdeshon/ 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

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