Mel Jason Smalls (born January 4, 1979), better known by his
stage name Drag-On, is an
American hip hop recording artist and actor from
the Bronx borough of
New York City. Drag-On is perhaps best known as an original member of the
Ruff Ryders Entertainment imprint, where he released his debut album,
Opposite of H2O (2000). The album was successful, debuting at number five on the US
Billboard 200 chart and eventually sold over 500,000 copies and earning a
gold certification from the
Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). After leaving
Interscope Records, which issued his debut alongside Ruff Ryders, Drag-On joined
Virgin Records and released his second album
Hell and Back, in 2004. The album failed to garner the success of his debut, only reaching number 47 on the
Billboard 200, and was subsequently dropped from Virgin. In October 2007, Drag-On signed a recording contract with his longtime friend and former Ruff Ryders label-mate
Swizz Beatz's
Full Surface Records. Drag-on's label HOOD ENVIRONMENT is currently being distributed by Indie powerhouse IMF Distribution. Drag-On has appeared in the 2001 film
Exit Wounds and the 2003
Cradle 2 the Grave, both of which stars his then-Ruff Ryders label-mate
DMX.