A Tribe Called Quest [ tickets ], Nas [ tickets ], Mos Def [ tickets ], De La Soul [ tickets ] and The Pharcyde [ tickets ] are among the artists donating memorabilia to the first Rock the Bells [ tickets ] online charity auction, scheduled for Dec. 1-15. Proceeds from the auction, which will feature items from the artists who participated in the 2008 RTB International Festival Series tour, will be donated to the American Diabetes Association, according to a press release.

Auction organizers Hip Hop Official and RTB promoters Guerilla Union were inspired to get involved with the ADA after observing A Tribe Called Quest's Phife Dawg, who is battling the disease, during the 2008 RTB festival series. In a statement, GU founder Chang Weisberg said, "Phife was an absolute inspiration to myself and our staff. His courage and strength to perform night in and night out for Rock The Bells was nothing less than extraordinary."

According to reports, Phife was on dialysis, and recently he underwent a successful kidney transplant.

Featured items up for auction will include two custom, limited-edition RTB skateboard decks signed by all the 2008 RTB artists. In addition, several RTB artists and labels are donating special autographed pieces including sneakers from Supernatural and a prize pack from Duck Down Records.

Contributions also will be made in memory of hip-hop producer/rapper J Dilla, and Jheryl Busby, former president and chief executive of Motown Records.

More information can be found at the official auction website.