Drag-On Signs With Swizz Beatz’s Full Surface Records

According to a statement released by the rapper's camp, Bronx rapper Drag-On recently signed a new solo deal with Swizz Beatz's Full Surface Records. Drag, whose real name is Melvin Smalls, was signed to Swizz's former Ruff Ryders crew at the peak of their popularity in 1998. After appearing frequently on the crew's 1999 compilation Ryde or Die Vol. 1, he went on to release two albums with Ruff Ryders, 2000's gold-selling Opposite of H20 and 2004's commercially ignored Hell and Back, which were distributed by Interscope and Virgin Records, respectively. After parting ways with the label, he released his third album Hood Environment earlier this year on his own independent label of the same name.

More recently, Drag has also appeared on Swizz's One Man Band Man album and has been in the studio with Full Surface artist Cassidy. Drag has reportedly been working "daily" with Swizz on his fourth album, which will be released in conjunction with Full Surface. While the majority of the label's artists are distributed through Interscope Records, they are still looking for a distributor for this particular project.