Rapper/producer PHARRELL WILLIAMS is teaming up with skateboard ace Tony Hawk to encourage Black, inner-city kids to get into the X-Games sport with a planned series of shows.

Hawk is convinced Black youths have steered well clear of skateboarding in the past because they associated the sport with spoiled white kids.

He says, "In the past it was all about accessibility, because before the dawn of street skating you went to the skate park. You had to pay, get the equipment - and now definitely it's become more culturally diverse because it's more accessible."

Williams is hoping to team up with Hawk's public parks charity, which has started 250 skate parks in low income areas.