Drag-On 

 Bio

     East Coast rapper Drag On had a long and profitable history in the background of hardcore rap albums, contributing to projects like DMX's two multi-platinum albums, Ruff Ryders' Ryde or Die, Vol. 1, DJ Clue's The Professional and several compilations and soundtracks. In early 2000, he released his first solo album, Opposite of H2O , which brought him up to the forefront and showcased his talent for laid-back, slippery grooves and thug rhymes.

"I fuck with Drag-On 'cause he spits the flame/Drag-On, motherfucker/Don't forget the name" ... DMX "No Love For Me"

     "Me and my niggas done ripped shops/ Bet y'all can't wait 'till my shit drops" ... Drag-On "Down Bottom"

A camp like no other, Ruff Ryders have already blessed us with DMX, the LOX, and producer Swiss Beatz. Poised next to leave an indelible imprint upon the hip hop consciousness is Drag-On.

"I'm bringing a lot of fire", says Drag-On. "When I leave this industry, I plan to leave a whole lotta burning buildings. I plan to bring a whole lot of heat steam, sweat,whatever."

He's off to a good start. In addition to his appearance on DMX's two multi-platinum albums and his work on the Ruff Ryders Ryde or Die Vol.1, Drag has scorched DJ Clue's "The Professional" (GOLD), "The Belly Soundtrack" (GOLD), Harlem World's "The Movement" (GOLD), and the recently released tri-regional compilation "Turf Stories". Not bad for someone who has a stuttering problem. "That's why I say 'youknowwhuti'msayin' a lot", he confesses. "I just say that a lot instead of stuttering."

"It don't affect me when I rhyme," he says. "Why I'm flaming, I'm in another Zone. I won't be where I'm at now. I'll be someplace totally different."

     Drag On's verses are like, well fire. They're controversial and confrontational,. His flow is unique,and erratic; it flickers, crackles, contracts, and expands with a science of it's own, as he says on "Ryde or Die": "You wrong tryin' to touch me / What kind of shit you on? / You better throw your boots on / Your unflameable suits on / Tryin' to out the flames / What are you firemen? / Step back, it's a hell of a draftback/ 'Cause my fire it retires me."

     "The name 'Drag-On' came from "Dragon"," reveals the rapper. "My name was 'dragon' because everything that comes out of a dragon's mouth is fire, it's hot. And that's what people used to say about me-everything that comes out of my mouth is hot like fire."

Born and raised in the Bronx, Drag-On was first introduced to rap through his uncle. "When I was mad small, he was always rhyming, banging on tables and kickin' flows," Drag recalls. "I was just lovin' it. Just to hear him say it." But things changed when Drag On turned 9. "He got locked up," says Drag. " So I picked up a pen and started to write so I could hold it down while he was locked up.

     Drag rhymed while ingesting the work of Rakim, Kool G Rap, Slick Rick, and Big Daddy Kane. Years of writing and practicing culminated when Drag-On met Ruff Ryder CEO, Darrin Dean, while working as a street vendor selling sweaters, jeans, coats, hats, and more on Harlem's 125th Street. "We had one of the biggest tables out there," Dean, a mutual acquaintance of Drags vending partner was impressed with Drag's lyrical acumen and invited him to a studio session for DMX's "It's Dark and hell Is Hot." "They always put you in a test to see if you could hold your weight," says Drag-On. In the studio, he had to go head to head, line for line with DMX. "DMX was spittin' and I was spittin', but I held my ground. I was 17 at the time."

     Now 19, Drag has completed close to 40 songs for his untitled debut, which he hopes to drop early 2000.

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