Hip-Hop Duo Pushes to Get More Americans with Disabilities into the “Mainstream”
Tomorrow, National Disability Institute (NDI) will travel to Capitol Hill to call for a more coordinated effort by the public and private sectors to work together to cut the disability poverty rate in half for the 22 million working-age adults with disabilities in this country by 2025 – the 35th Anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).
We are honored to be joined in this journey by Members of Congress and their staff, thought leaders in the disability, asset development and poverty reduction communities, self-advocates, and our new friends, New York City hip-hop duo Namel “Tapwaterz” Norris and Ricardo “Rickfire” Velasquez of 4WheelCity.
In advance of our December 10th event, “Financial Inclusion and Shared Prosperity – The Next Frontier,” I sat down with the voices and wheels behind the hip-hop duo taking the disability community and music industry by storm with their powerful message and lyrics.
But, first… a little background on Namel and Ricardo.
When Namel was 17-years-old, he was at his sister’s birthday party when his cousin started playing with a gun. The gun accidentally fired, striking Namel in the neck and paralyzing him from the chest down. Meanwhile, Ricardo was a high school senior, walking home after a party when he got caught in the crossfire of a street fight and was shot. The injury left him paralyzed from a spinal cord injury.
After these incidents, both Namel and Ricardo, who were now in wheelchairs, felt shunned by the people they used to hang out with. However, this all changed a few months after Namel’s accident when his mother spotted Ricardo in the building next door and introduced herself and asked him to be her son’s friend. She said he didn’t know anyone else in a wheelchair. Ricardo agreed and they exchanged phone numbers. Once they talked, they soon discovered they had much more in common than “disability.” In fact, and most importantly, both shared an immense passion for music.
Fast forward to 2006, the same year Namel earned his bachelor’s degree in business management from Lehman College, the two men officially launched 4WheelCity: a broader, nonprofit movement to “inspire, educate, advocate, and entertain.”
Since forming 4WheelCity, the hip-hop duo has played at radio stations and performed at numerous clubs in the New York City metropolitan area.
“We have two sides to what we do, and we try to do them both with the same mission, the same purpose,” says Namel. “We do music to inspire people.” At VH1’s Hip-Hop Honors Awards in 2006, 4WheelCity interviewed rap artists and other celebrities in the industry. 4WheelCity was nominated for an Underground Music award and designated one of “50 Unsung Heroes” by the New York Daily News, as well as being featured on CNN and ABC World News Tonight.
I hopped on the phone with Namel and Ricardo to talk about music, poverty and getting more Americans with disabilities into the “Mainstream.”
Dominic: First off, what words would best describe 4WheelCity?”
Ricardo and Namel: “Resilient, brave, leaders, pioneers and survivors. We don’t take ‘no’ for an answer!”
Dominic: “How has your disability changed your life? What insights has it given you? New perspectives?”
Ricardo: “Well, one day I was walking. Then, the next day, I wasn’t. My disability has made me appreciate everything – to take nothing for granted. With my injury, I quickly found out that family will always be there and have your back.”
Namel: “I was always active in sports growing up. After my accident – when I was 17 – suddenly everything changed. I was no longer able to walk or play the sports I used to. My disability changed my state of mind. Before my disability, I was on the wrong path; just another kid from the projects following the wrong crowd. But, after becoming a person with disabilities, I learned our decisions have consequences – good and bad.”
Dominic: “What’s your American Dream? Do you want to own a house? A car? Send your kids to college?”
Ricardo: “I want to be like every other Americans. I want to own my own home and car and have the opportunity to travel the world. I want to be okay financially. Honestly, I’m just tired of living paycheck-to-paycheck.”
Namel: “The American Dream, to me, is all about my finances. Rick and I are two paraplegics from the projects in the Bronx, fighting to make a difference in other peoples’ lives. We are the American Dream, the American Spirit!”
Dominic: “What’s 4WheelCity’s message?”
Namel: “Rick and I are in a unique position. Before we started, the hip-hop world would have never given a second thought to a person with disabilities.”
Ricardo: “Our message is to change the perception and mentality of others toward a person in a wheelchair, or a person with any type of disability. People need to think more and consider people with disabilities.”
Dominic: “What would you like to see happen to Americans with disabilities both culturally and economically?”
Ricardo: “Give us jobs! A lot of us have great ideas… stigma needs to change!”
Namel: “I want the mentality of others and perceptions toward people with disabilities to change. I want people to look beyond the wheelchair. Let’s get rid of the ignorance that exists among some when it comes to access to shops, clubs, taxis, restaurants and so many more places.”
Dominic: “Finally, we are so excited to hear the premiere of your new song, “Mainstream,” tomorrow. What are you trying to get across to people with your newest song?”
Namel: “In the song, we mention the “mainstream of the economy.” Everyone should have access. We should all have the right to earn and spend our money how we want… be mainstream, like Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. said about the content of your character. It also means that if you work hard, you will have greater opportunities for success. The song is about breaking down barriers; we need to help each other out.”
Ricardo: “’Mainstream’ is a play-on. Everyone should be able to work and dream. No one should be held back. The mainstream is about everyone being ’A-List.’ The song tells the struggle of who we are as artists – our life in poverty. The song’s beat is rugged and reminds me of the Depression. We are letting the world know we and so many other people with disabilities are coming!”
To learn more about 4WheelCity, please visit their official website. To download any of their songs or albums, go to: http://4wheelcitymusic.reverbnation.com/.
Dominic Manecke is the Communications Specialist for National Disability Institute (NDI). Dominic has more than seven years of professional experience in communications and public affairs. Prior to joining NDI, Dominic served as deputy press secretary for Congressman John Yarmuth (KY-03). Dominic has extensive experience drafting and editing all forms of communication, event planning, media training, managing various social media platforms and conceptualizing and implementing targeted outreach campaigns.