If you were a hip-hop fan in the late 90's, you really couldn't help but notice the Ruff Ryders movement, helmed by DMX and involving a host of east coast talents that went on to release their own successful projects. Well, one of those talents is making a return to the major label spotlight, as New York rapper Drag-On recently announced his signing to Swizz Beatz's Full Surface imprint.

Despite being under the mainstream radar for the last several years, Drag has kept himself busy, most recently with his independent release, Hood Environment, which will also be the name of his own imprint operating under the Full Surface label. ''"This will give me a chance to bring in new talent and give others a chance to shine as well. My label is gonna be 100% with hard music for the streets," Drag told reporters, promoting his business venture.
While a lot of time has passed since any rapper from the Ruff Ryders camp other than Jadakiss garnered major media attention, anyone who has heard Swizz and Drag's previous colaborations ("Bang Bang Boom" or "Bust Ya Gunz" come to mind) knows that the two have an undeniable chemistry in the studio. While this may not signal the return of east coast rap, it certainly feels like a step in the right direction, back to a time when artists focused on their strengths rather than on what they felt like the should be doing.