While Serena Williams known worldwide as a champion tennis player, she also said that she has a hidden talent – rap. “I’m a talented rapper,” Williams told Star Magazine. “A lot of people don’t know that about me, but I am. I don’t freestyle or anything, but I can definitely rap. I also play the guitar.” Williams, 25, who has won eight grand slam tennis singles titles and an Olympic gold medal, admitted that she doesn’t plan to record an album anytime soon. “A rapping guitarist — that would be so weird. I’m too shy to do that,” Williams said. Williams recently announced that she will skip next week’s German Open Tennis Tournament in Berlin, due to a right groin injury.
FlowTV recently launched, billed as the first on demand television channel dedicated solely to Hip-Hop culture. The network was rolled out to over 70 million viewers via broadband, mobile and television, via relationships with Time Warner and Comcast. The network is the third network launched by Ripe Digital Entertainment, which launched Ripe TV and Octane TV. According to Ripe Digital Entertainment, FlowTV will launch with over 100 hours of exclusive programming related to Hip-Hop culture. Channel categories include Smack DVD, Flow Live, Flowlicious, VIP Lounge and others. “Ripe Digital has the most-watched networks On Demand today whether on your TV, phone or computer,” said Ripe Digital Entertainment’s CEO Ryan Ryan Magnussen. “It’s because we stay true to the new style of lifestyle programming and audience. FlowTV is an extension of this philosophy and fills a niche both viewers and advertisers have wanted for years. FlowTV will be synonymous with the urban, hip hop lifestyle – in your face, on demand and as real as it gets.” For more information go to www.flow.tv.
Ice-T has signed a letter of intent with TM Media Group to endorse the company’s video and collectible card game, Street Credit. The urban-themed game collectable card game aimed at the multi-billion dollar video game and CCG industries. The game is an online video and collectible card game. Users play the game online, on a subscription basis. Fans will also have the ability to purchase trading cards in stores. “The video game industry generates $6.35 billion in revenue annually and the leading CCGs attract five to six million users per year and contribute approximately $1 billion in revenues annually for the US game industry,” stated Matt Harmon, chief executive officer of TM Media Group. “Ice-T recognizes how large these markets are and sees the potential opportunity for Street Credit as the first urban themed CCG and Video Game CCG. We believe that the unique and innovative game play of Street Credit coupled with the video game will propel us into the world of successful CCGs, just like the World of Warcraft and Pokemon CCGs.”
Rapstress Eve is the newest artist to be caught in a web of legal trouble as misdemeanor charges from a recent traffic accident have been filed. The Associated Press reports that city prosecutors charged the 28-year-old rhymesayer (born Eve Jihan Jeffers) Friday (May 4) with driving under the influence, driving with a blood-alcohol level of .08 or above, and failure to provide proof of insurance. The charges were the result of Eve’s early morning arrest on April 26 in Hollywood, CA. According to reports, the Grammy-winning entertainer was stopped by officers after her car struck a raised concrete center median on Hollywood Boulevard. A breath test showed the Eve’s blood-alcohol level was above the legal limit. Eve was later arrested for suspicion of driving under the influence and taken to the Los Angeles County Jail. She was released from custody shortly after posting bail. Eve, who faces a maximum penalty of six months in jail and a $1,000 fine, is scheduled to be arraigned May 17.
