As Britney Spears continues to work on her forthcoming fourth album -- which is supposed to be a departure in style for the pop princess -- she's also getting rid of a few other things from her past, in the name of charity. Spears is auctioning off her stage and movie costumes, some signed original photography and other memorabilia, as well as concert packages and "personal experiences" starting this Thursday on www.gottahaveit.com. The auction runs through June 3, and proceeds go to the Britney Spears Foundation. ...

Blu Cantrell has set a June 24 release date for her second album, Bittersweet, which features collaborations with Missy Elliott, Lil' Kim, Fat Joe, Lady May and reggae star Ian Lewis of Inner Circle. Sean Paul appears on the first single, "Breathe," which was produced by Dr. Dre and will be accompanied by a Hype Williams-directed video. ... Nelly and producer 7 Aurelius were awarded Songwriters of the Year and Puddle of Mudd's "Blurry" was named Song of the Year at the ASCAP Pop Music Awards Tuesday in Beverly Hills, California. Elvis Costello was presented the ASCAP Founders' Award at the event, which included a performance of Christina Aguilera's "Beautiful" by the song's co-author, Linda Perry. ...

Twenty-one-year-old rapper Jason Johnson, better known as Camoflauge, was shot and killed on Monday in his hometown of Savannah, Georgia. Camoflauge, who made his major-label debut in 2001 with Strictly 4 Da Streets: Drugs, Sex & Violence Vol. 1, was fatally wounded while with his young son outside Pure Pain studios, where he had been recording. Police have made no arrests and have not named any suspects. ... Panjabi MC, whose remix of "Beware of the Boys (Mundian to Bach Ke)" with Jay-Z is one of spring's breakout singles, will promote the July 1 release of his U.S. debut, Beware, with a week of tour dates. The trek includes several club dates in New York, including June 4 at S.O.B.'s Basement Bhangra party. ...

Legendary director Martin Scorsese's next project is a biography of Bob Dylan tentatively titled "Bob Dylan Anthology Project." The movie is currently slated for release in 2005. ... James Brown was pardoned by the South Carolina Department of Probation, Parole and Pardon Services for drug-related charges that stemmed from a 1998 bust. Brown had previously served two and a half years behind bars after being arrested for drug possession in 1988. ...

The guys of 3 Doors Down will be in Charlotte, North Carolina, on Friday afternoon to see the premiere of a NASCAR Busch Series race car decked out with a 3DD design. Later that evening, the band will perform a free show at Food Lion Speed Street. ... P.O.D. will name their next LP Payable on Death, which is what their namesake acronym stands for. The 17-song follow-up to 2001's Satellite is due November 4. ...

New York Yankees slugger Bernie Williams has had his fair share of hits on the ball field, but will it carry over to success in the studio? The centerfielder will drop his debut LP, The Journey Within, on July 15. Alongside jazzy covers of Billy Joel's "And So It Goes" and Kansas' "Dust in the Wind," the album also includes seven of the guitarist's original compositions. ... The mighty Tenacious D took the stage with Styx on Tuesday night at the Staples Center in Los Angeles for a performance of "Kiss Your Ass Goodbye." The song is featured on the new Styx album Cyclorama. ... First season "American Idol" finalist R.J. Helton is expected to release a gospel album this fall on Gospocentric/B-Rite Music, home to contemporary Christian crooner Kirk Franklin. ...

Sheryl Crow, Billy Joel, Faith Hill, Elton John, Jamie Foxx, Robin Williams and Dennis Miller will all take the stage for Andre Agassi's annual Grand Slam for Children event, which benefits at-risk youths. The event will take place at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on October 4. ... In other Elton John and Billy Joel charity news, the two are reaching out to less fortunate musicians by donating concert tickets from their current tour to an eBay auction that will benefit the Sweet Relief Musicians Fund. The fund provides financial assistance to artists who can't afford health insurance. ... Pink Floyd guitarist David Gilmour has donated almost $6 million to help provide housing for hundreds of poor and homeless people in central London. Gilmour got the idea from a community project he heard about in New York City. ...

5.20.03

Beyoncé Knowles, Erykah Badu and Jill Scott are among the artists set to perform at the 16th annual Essence Awards June 6 at the Kodak Theatre in Hollywood. Talib Kweli, Common, New Edition, Lionel Richie and the Gap Band will also take the stage at the event, which this year will honor Mary J. Blige and Mos Def. ...

Rapping and acting just don't seem to be enough for some MCs. Today's well-rounded rhymers must get into the threads game as well. Ludacris, who'll be seen in "2 Fast 2 Furious," expects his clothing line, C.P. Time, to launch by the end of the year. ... R&B duo and two-time BET Award nominees Floetry are working on their new album, the follow-up to last year's Floetic. Meanwhile, Marsha Ambrosius and Natalie Stewart have thus far recorded two songs with soul diva Patti LaBelle for her album, and are planning to collaborate with 3LW in the summer for theirs. Floetry have six tour dates lined up, from June 7 in their hometown Philadelphia through July 5 in Los Angeles. ...

If you're a girl in Portland, Oregon, you too can now say, "This one time, at band camp ...": The third annual Rock 'N' Roll Camp for Girls, a day camp to familiarize 8 to 18-year-old females with the power of rock, will take place from June 16 to 21. This year, workshops, performances and instruction will be conducted by members of Sleater-Kinney, the King Cobra, DJ Pam the Funkstress of the Coup, the Gossip, the Quails, Cherchez la Femme and Queen Size Revolution. Girls will learn to play instruments, form bands, run sound boards, produce shows, design CD packaging and posters and develop self-defense skills. A showcase of bands formed at the camp will be held June 21 at the Aladdin Theater. ...

Now that "Para Que la Vida," Enrique Iglesias' latest single off his 2002 Spanish-language album, Quizas, has hit #1 on Billboard's Hot Latin Tracks, he now holds the record for the most #1 singles (16) by any artist on that chart. The crooner is currently in the studio working on a new English-language LP, the follow-up to 2001's Escape. ... On Saturday in Hartford, Connecticut, Wayne Wonder and Beenie Man will headline the Greatest One Night Reggae Show on Earth, a multi-artist festival that makes sporadic stops around the country, similar to Reggae Sunsplash in the 1990s. Sanchez, DJ Badda Flexx and Pickey round out the bill. ...

Rooney have scheduled a tour to support their self-titled debut. Dates begin Tuesday (May 20) in Cincinnati and go through June 17 in Anaheim, California. ... Fountains of Wayne will launch a tour in Milwaukee on July 3. Dates run through July 28 in Anaheim, California. The band will be on the road to support its upcoming disc, Welcome Interstate Managers, which comes out June 10. The first single will be "Stacey's Mom," a modern "Mrs. Robinson" with a new wave pulse. ...

Canadian rockers Default are working on their second album, the follow-up to 2001's The Fallout. The band has written at least 11 songs during pre-production in Seattle, and will move up to Vancouver Island to record the LP. The band has a half-dozen shows scheduled June 15-30 in Canada and the northern U.S., where the group is expected to preview some new tunes. ... Former Ramones drummer Marky Ramone has recorded a dozen Teenage Head songs with three of the four members of the early '80s Canadian punk band with longtime Ramones producer Daniel Rey. It's not known what will become of the tracks. ...

Adema have set an August 19 release date for their second full-length album, Unstable, which shares a title with the first single, due on radio in late June. The band will launch a headlining tour to promote the record June 1 in Chico, California, and stay on the road until a Los Angeles show July 12. ... Wu-Tang Clan member Cappadonna will drop his third solo album, The Struggle, in September. Track titles include "Get Away From the Door," which features Inspectah Deck, "Blood Brothers," "Cap Is Back," "Role of a Lifetime," "Season of Da Vick" and "I Don't Even Know You." ...