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Patrick St. Fleur blog: www.patricktalks.com twitter: @pstfleur |
Releasing his first solo album in 2000, Drag-on was a key component in hip hop’s Ruff Riders movement and contributed to DMX’s three multi-platinum albums and a number of compilations.
Drag-on is now preparing to come back into the game, full force, with a new project featuring the likes of Swizz Beatz, Dame Greese, Cassidy, Maino, Styles P, and Eve.
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 upcoming album My Life, My Legacy, My Melody. The release will be a 50-50 venture between Ruff Ryder Indy and Drag-On’s Hood Environment label, which he founded three years ago.
Patrcik St. Fluer recently spoke to Drag-on about the upcoming album, what’s been going on in his life since his last major release in 2004, and the new single, “Money.”
Here’s the full interview transcript provided by Patrick St. Fleur & Rashad Dowdell:
Patrick: How is it going Drag On? How has things been going for you?
Everything is going good, I’m definitely feeling the welcome back, so I feel good, I mean I never really left, I’m still doing the mixtapes and everything, but I’m feeling good know what I’m saying?
Patrick: With the Ruff Ryder project coming out, how does it feel to be working with everyone again, Eve, Dmx, the Lox and etc?
Really I’ve just been working on my album, “My life, My legacy, My Melody”, we did a partnership with Ruff Ryders, but they still fam.
Patrick: before we get into what you currently have going on, we have to play catch up. Your last album was in 2004,(Hell and Back) and you kind of resurfaced recently appearing on a few tracks, most notably the “Who’s real, Who’s fake” remix track. What has Drag-on been doing since 2004?
I started my own label, Hood Environment, for people who been following me, they know about it, I’ve still been in the picture low key, I didn’t stop making music, I’ve been still doing mixtapes here and there, but I’m back all the way in with this new project.
Patrick: You started your own record label, “Hood Environment” What made you decide to go that route?
I just felt like record labels were making huge mistakes when it came to dealing with their artist, I just felt like it was time for me to take control of my own career you know what I’m sayin? So that’s why I started HE.
Patrick: Will HE have any connection to Ruff Ryders?
Yea most definitely, we have a 50/50 thing, so hopefully after My life, My legacy, My Melody , I’ll do Opposite of H2o part 2, or I’m gonna drop the Hood Environment compilation
Patrick: How many artists are currently with HE?
I got 2 artist right now The Dude & Oz B, and I got one in the works, I don’t want to say too much on that one until everything gets right, but yea I got one more in the works.
Patrick: Lets talk about the album My Life, My legacy, My melody, I think the title gives a good description of what people could expect… What’s the difference in style between this album and the last album?
With this album right here, of course I still made it edgy, I put a lot of more bigger music you know what I’m sayin, on this one I did a lot of big songs, big music, umm, I got Neyo the matrix producing on this, a lot of songs are radio ready and is big for the stadium, hard, few club tracks. It’s just bigger.
Patrick: Any features on this album?
Avery Storm came through to bless my joint, of course with the homie swizz, I did one with Cassidy, don’t know if its gonna make the album though, we just working over here, 75% done with the album, I still got a couple of tricks up my sleeve.
Patrick: What would be the 1 track that’s your favorite on this album?
“Money” is my favorite joint, its just a hot joint, you know I’m the fire man, I got a big block of ice in front of me that I got to melt, so the “money” joint is the real one, all dj’s love it, everyone who’s heard it is feeling it heavy, so this the one we going with right now in the clubs.
Patrick: I read that you have a tribute track dedicated to DMX titled “Thank you”, what had DMX meant to you and your career?
He did a lot for me, taught me a lot, he definitely broke bread with me, showed me life, showed me the game, so I got a lot of respect for him, and that’s what the track is basically talking about.
Patrick: Do you feel like you have to re-introduce yourself to the game? Or do you feel comfortable enough to just pick up where you left off?
Of course, there’s a whole new audience out there, dudes that’s blind to that will never see, I’m kind of hip to the game though, and I’m still young, I’m still in my twenties, a lot of people don’t know that, when I came in the game, I was 17.
Patrick: I have to ask, what’s your opinion on East Coast hip-hop right now on the mainstream level? Can the east coast get back the spotlight it had when Ruff Ryders were running things??
I was never really hung up on the east/west/south thing. I’m glad the south is in the game, it just shows that hip-hop is bigger now, its just not the east coast, now we got the south involved, so hip-hop is growing, that’s all I care about. We got rappers all over the world, I love it…at one time, people were trying to ban rap, and it’s a blessing. I never considered east coast falling off, we been making so much money, its cool if everyone else making money to.
Patrick: You’ve done a few films in the past, would you consider doing more or are strictly focusing on being a CEO and focused on your music?
Na I’m just strictly focused on this album and being a CEO, branding my record label, just getting the music out to the people.
Patrick: What has been the most memorable moment in your career?
Performing with Dmx, just being on tour, I’ve been on the hard knock life tour, having my own set Ruff Ryders/Cash Money Tour was kind of a big deal for me too.
Patrick: For the People who want to get in touch with Drag-on how can they reach you?
I ain’t gonna front, I’m on twitter hard body right now, Twitter.com/officialdragon
I be on Kyte too, all of my followers on Kyte can usually just see me playing with my daughter in the crib, decorating the Christmas tree and stuff like that, but yea definitely get at me on that, also on the MySpace at myspace.com/officialdragon
Patrick: It’s been Good Talking with You Drag-on Any Last Words Before You Get Out of Here?
Definitely look out for the HE thing, this album right here, its HE/ Ruff Ryders, we still family, but yo boy Drag-on is back, I’m 75% done with the album, we just getting it cracking, I’m aware of the recession, that’s why I put the “money” track out there first, I didn’t want to call it anything else, be subliminal about it or anything, just real, talking about “money” cause that’s what everyone is out here for. So make sure yall check that joint out, I’m coming.
Interview By: Patrick St. Fleur
Blog: www.patricktalks.com
Twitter: @Pstfleur
