Talented hip-hop artists Namel "Tapwaterz" Norris and Ricardo "Rickfire" Velasquez of 4 Wheel City are on a mission. Wheelchair users as a result of senseless gun violence, these rap visionaries have leveraged their musical gifts and life experience to inspire others with disabilities not to give up. Both injured as teenagers in the Bronx—Velasquez in the crossfire of a neighborhood shootout and Norris accidentally by his cousin who was playing with a gun—the duo met through the efforts of Norris’ mother, concerned over her son’s despondency following his accident. When they found they had more in common than just their chairs, they launched 4 Wheel Records and completed two albums with Norris as solo artist and Velasquez as producer.
Then, in 2006—the same year Norris graduated from Lehman College with a Bachelor’s in business management they kicked off 4 Wheel City, a movement created to "inspire, educate, advocate and entertain." Now, in addition to performing their original music, they also offer motivational speaking for hospitals, schools,and events world wide. In 2010 their efforts caught the attention of rap superstar Snoop Dog, who collaborated with 4 Wheel City on the Welcome 2 Reality G-mix. “This is not just a record it's a movement,” Snoop said in a statement.
4 Wheel City’s use of music and hip hop culture to encourage inner city youth to resist the allure of street life and stay in school has also made national news. CNN covered their Welcome 2 Reality program, where Norris and Velasquez combine a motivational lecture with an inspiring hip hop performance to convey the value of education, responsible decisions and ending teen violence to their student audiences.
4 Wheel City has also pioneered a revolutionary new brand of rehabilitation which they call “rap therapy.” They visit hospitals and rehabs where they speak and rap for people who are struggling with their own disabilities.
