Drag-On is probably best-known as DMX’s sidekick. While many members of the Ruff Ryders crew have risen to stardom, he has always been the man in the background. After the retirement of DMX in 2003, the entire crew fell off. Aside from Swizz Beatz, moving on to start a label of his own, there was no buzz from the camp on the music scene.

Swizz Beatz announced a rededication to the Ruff Ryders Entertainment late last year. He said that 2009 was going to be the year that the Ruff Ryders take back over. The famed producer promised albums from DMX, Eve, Jadakiss, The L.O.X., Drag-On, and a group album. All that came, though, was a solo album from Jadakiss.

Throughout his career, Drag-On has been the man in the background. Now, he is ready to step into the forefront. One of the new branches of Ruff Ryders Entertainment is their independent music distribution company. Earlier this year, Drag-On created his own label, Hood Environment Entertainment and he will be releasing music on that label from here on out.

Hood Environment Entertainment will be the first label to have their music distributed through the new company, called Ruff Ryders Indy. The first release under this new venture will be an album from Drag-On. This album will be his last release, as he will now pour all of his creative energy into his own Hood Environment camp.

Already, Drag has a plethora of New York rappers signed to the label. Once he releases his third studio album, My Life, My Legacy, My Melody, he will begin promoting these artists. His album is currently set for release in March or April of 2010. The album will be released on Hood Environment, Ruff Ryders Indy, Full Surface, and Universal Motown.

Staying submerged within a group is sure to leave a person to pick up particular things as it relates to his/her own solo business.

For rapper Drag-On, his years of working alongside Swizz Beatz, DMX and the Ruff Ryders has paid off as he has branched out to deliver his own slew of artists and launch his own record label.

Aptly titled Hood Environment, as Drag continues to push his own solo project My Life, My Legacy, My Melody, due out around April, the rapper is trying to clear a lane for new artists to have a platform to showcase their talents as he was provided an outlet when he was first coming up.

As the Ruff Ryders slowly pick up the pieces, Drag only looks forward with his own career.

During an interview with HipHopWired, Drag spoke on the background behind his label and how he has been grinding to push the name out into the open.

“It actually started like three years ago.  I went and found two artists and we just been up in the studio just grinding.  I started the Hood Environment, we started dropping mixtapes on the streets and the streets kept grasping to it and we just kept going from there.”

So far, the roster of artists is Terror the Dude and Oz D, both hailing from New York.

“I had actually met up with them through my old accountant that I used to deal with.  A couple cats that understood my movement, they just linked us up.”

As the year closes, the rapper is far from taking a break as he looks at January 1 as the point where things must pick up with introducing the music world to Hood Environment and its artists, along with the Ruff Ryders movement.

“In 2010, I’m just trying to launch my record label and get it off the ground and at the same time, I’m trying to get the Ruff Ryders back to where they need to be all in the same process while I’m doing that.  I’m definitely trying to break my artists, hoping to drop a Hood Environment Compilation.”

With so many questions and even more yellow tape surrounding the future of the rumored Ruff Ryders compilation, the rapper is clearly not keeping his eggs in one basket.  The love for the movement will never leave Drag, but for now, he has tunnel vision with the finish line being the success of Hood Environment.

(CFD.net.au – Contract for Difference, Share, Forex, ETFs, Commodities Traders) – of the aquatic bird on the C$1 coin, came within three cents of parity with the U.S. dollar this month. “It’s probably continued fallout from comments from the central bank” driving down the Canadian currency, said Paul Ferley , assistant chief economist in Toronto at Royal Bank of Canada, anada, the nation’s biggest bank. “Certainly the bank made it quite clear that they didn’t think economic conditions warranted moving ahead with any interest-rate hikes. The markets had started to factor in a hike in March but the bank’s comments dampened that.” Canada’s dollar weakened 1.5 percent to C$1.0694 per U.S. dollar at 4:42 p.m. in Toronto, from C$1.0538 on Oct. 23. It touched C$1.0697, the weakest level since it reached C$1.0715 on Oct. 6. One Canadian dollar buys 93.51 U.S. cents. The loonie gained 19 percent this year through Oct. 19, the day before central-bank policy makers’ latest meeting. It fell 3.5 percent since then. Oil Plunges crude oil for December delivery Dropped as much as 3.1 percent today to $77.97 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange before trading at $78.74, down 2.2 percent. Last week it touched $82 a barrel, the highest level in a year. Crude is Canada’s biggest export. Stocks fell, with the Standard & Poor’s 500 Index Dropping 1.2 percent. The MSCI World Index , a gauge of equities in 23 developed nations slid 1.4 percent, its fifth day of losses. A Canadian currency with greater strength than policy makers assumed could be a “significant further drag on growth and put additional downward pressure on inflation,” Carney said in his speech in Montreal today. The central bank last week raised to 96 U.S. cents its assumption for where the loonie will trade through 2011, from the 87 U.S. cents it forecast in July. Carney reiterated today the central bank’s economic outlook and its commitment to keep the benchmark lending rate at a record low 0.25 percent through June 2010. He is scheduled to testify tomorrow and the following day before parliamentary standing committees in Ottawa. Greenback Advances The U.S. dollar rose against 13 of the 16 most-actively traded currencies tracked by Bloomberg. It advanced the most against the 16-nation European common currency in almost two months, touching C$1.4845 per Euro, on speculation its earlier Drop to a 14-month low beyond $1.50 would be too hard to sustain. The Canadian dollar fell against 14 of the 16 currencies. “Funds have now drifted above the 21-day moving average at C$1.0539, an indicator that the U.S. dollar has not closed above versus the Canadian dollar since Oct. 2,” wrote Shane Enright , a currency strategist at CIBC World Markets in Toronto. He recommends selling the U.S. currency on “strength toward C$1.0600, risking a daily close above C$1.0675.” Technical analysts consider a financial instrument such as a currency or commodity rising above its moving average — a measure of momentum — to be an indicator that further gains may be imminent. ‘Away from Parity’ The loonie appreciated to C$1.0207 per U.S. dollar on Oct. 15, the strongest level since July 2008, as signs of a Global economic recovery stoked demand for commodities, which account for more than half of Canada’s export revenue. The Canadian dollar last traded on a one-for-one basis with its U.S. counterpart in July 2008. “We’ll trade away from parity to the C$1.10 level,” said Michael Leavitt , a Montreal-based institutional-derivatives broker at MF Global Canada Co. He cited Carney’s renewed commitment to keep interest rates low, as well as the lack of strength in crude oil prices as reasons for the currency’s weakness. Steven Barrow , head of G10 research in London at Standard Bank Plc, changed his call on the Greenback versus the Canadian dollar to long from neutral, meaning he believes the U.S. currency will gain and the loonie will weaken. Canada’s government bonds fell. The 10-year note’s yield rose five basis points, or 0.05 percentage point, to 3.54 percent and touched 3.55 percent, the highest level in a week. The price of the 3.75 percent security maturing in June 2019 fell 37 cents to C$101.66. The yield on the two-year bond increased two basis points to 1.53 percent. Canadian government bonds have lost investors 1.8 percent this year, according to a Merrill Lynch Index. To contact the reporter on this story: Chris Fournier in Montreal at cfournier3@bloomberg.net Last Updated: October 26, 2009 16:45 EDT Canada Dollar Falls to 3-Week Low on Oil Drop, Carney Warning – Bloomberg.com

Source: By Chris Fournier Oct. 26 (Bloomberg) — Canada’s dollar depreciated to the lowest level in almost three

When the Ruff Ryders movement unexpectedly dissolved, many of the roster also faded into obscurity as years progressed.

Moving from Interscope to Virgin Records for the 2004 release of Hell and Back, rapper Drag-On would be dropped by the label due to low sales for the album which hadn’t matched the success of his debut album Opposite of H2O.

Five years later and a new page has turned in the life of the rapper.  Now with a daughter, Drag has a new lease of life which he intends to bring back to the music world with the release of his upcoming album My Life, My Legacy, My Melody.

My Melody makes reference to his daughter.

Drag was able to catch up during an interview with HipHopWired and the exclusive on the project and what to expect as far as the music.

“My album right now it’s called My Life, My Legacy, My Melody.  The sh*t is real crazy.  This joint right here I pretty much based this album on stadium music.  I pretty much only did songs that make me feel good on stage when I’m performing.  I got a lot of hungry producers on there; Swizz Beatz, Neo Da Matrix, my man avenue from Full Surface, my man Snag is a producer.  We just grinding on this album right now.”

In grind mode, the Bronx native has been heavy at work to ensure that he places the pure focus on himself, new music and getting the project done. 

“We like 75 percent done with that joint, I’m dropping my album March or April.  This album is half Ruff Ryders and the other half Is Hood Environment so we making sure a lot of things move, as far as with me.”

2004, however, is much different from 2009 as the game has gone through a drastic transition in substance, but Drag to the Dash finds that he will be able to adapt to the changing times.

 “No doubt, I definitely got to give them a different sound, different swag, different everything, but at the same time, I’m still gonna give them the same Drag.  A lot with me has changed over the year so I’m still gonna give them the same Drag, I’m just giving them a little more swag this time.”

Already leaking the cut “Money”, he is keeping himself buried in the lab to bring new sides to the fans of his music.

“Actually right now, I’m still working, I’m still in the studio.  I just did this song with the R&B kid Avery Storm and that joint came out crazy.”

In regards to Hip Hop, he adds that the game is still missing something that is very essential to the genre and in maintaining the craft.

“Just real talent, a lot of talent is not in the game right now.  I think I’m bringing back real talent, real bars, I feel as though the streets really need.”

Whatever the pending case is with the Ruff Ryders reunion, Drag-On seems to have tunnel vision and is purely focused on himself and ensuring that he delivers with his next project.

Ruff Ryders, the powerhouse entertainment brand that’s produced some of the biggest Hip-Hop records over the last decade, is proud to announce several new projects for 2010: a reunion album featuring rap stars DMX, Eve, and The Lox, the formation of Ruff Ryders Indy and the long-awaited third LP from Bronx fire-spitter Drag-On.

Supported with tracks by Swizz Beatz, the RR compilation album, entitled Ruff Ryders Evolution:  Generation I, includes the “Who’s Real Remix” featuring Jadakiss, Eve, Drag-On, Styles P, Sheek Louch, and DMX.

The album will also feature newly-signed double-R emcee, Mook, and of course Drag-On, who will release My Life, My Legacy, My Melody in March.

“Over the last 20 years, my family and I have built the Ruff Ryders brand on good music, original talent and hard work,” says Waah Dean, Ruff Ryders president/CEO. “Now, we are entering a new chapter of our company with album releases from Drag, Mook and the Ruff Ryder team, as well as the creation of our new ‘Ruff Ryder Indy’ division.”

Established this summer, Ruff Ryder Indy is a national distribution company serving independent artists with various album budgets. Its first project is Drag-On’s My Life, My Legacy, My Melody. The release is a 50-50 venture between Ruff Ryder Indy and Drag-On’s Hood Environment label which he founded three years ago.

“I’ve reinvented myself and created a whole new sound,” says the rapper born Mel Small, adding that My Life will be his last album with Ruff Ryders. “I’m trying to create another umbrella in this game with my label Hood Environment and my artists Da Dude and Eyez.B. However, I’m still the original ‘Fire-Man.’”

For more on Drag’s music, visit www.myspace.com/officialdragon or follow Drag on Twitter at www.twitter.com/officialdragon.

Check out the “Who’s Real Remix” below:

Damn ya gotta just vibe to this song. The beat’s insane!!!! Drag-on steps it up with the flow and lyrics. Great!! I approve it. This is a sick ass beat that Sagittarius Black should get on and do the remix!!!

Listen Here Drag-On “Money”

Cot damn!!! This ish right here is hotness for your ears. “You need that, and if you don’t got that get the eff back” Looks like Drag-On is back at it in full swing with this track. The beat is hard and has a nice swing to it, and when Drag jumps on it, he takes it too another level. The track is about money something we all want and need.

DOWNLOAD: Drag-On – Money (prod. Neo Da Matrix)

Spotted @ 2dopeboyz

DOWNLOAD – Drag-On – Money (prod. Neo Da Matrix) | Mediafire

DRAG-ON – EMERGENCY BROADCAST (PRODUCED BY SNAGZ)

Photo By FMA Magazines Own Patrick Neree

“Incase You Guys Though The Only Banger Swizz Beatz Protege “Snagz” Could Make Was Jadakiss Fea. OJ Da Juiceman & Swizz Beatz “Who’s Real” Record, You Must Be Buggin… Snagz Actually Played This Joint For Us A Couple Of Months Ago…Crazy…Drag Is Back… Check It Out & Be On The Look Out For His Full Interview With Us In Our Upcoming Issue… Get eXposed!”

Bonus:

Double R back in full effect? If they keep it up like this I’m sure a lot of folks will be pumped for a (future) project.

Jadakiss dropped a new video that’s a remix to the “Who’s Real” from his The Last Kiss album. This remix features the old Ruff Ryders crew that was so popular in the late 90s/early 2000s: Swizz Beatz, Eve, Drag-On, Styles P, Sheek Louch & DMX. Makes you feel kind of nostalgic. Check it out.

On a du attendre avant de le voir arriver mais le clip du Remix de Who’s Real de Jadakiss est enfin la, et tous les Ruff Ryders étaient présent pour le shooting, comme à l’ancienne.
The Last Kiss de Jadakiss est toujours dans les bacs!