In an effort that recalls the mid-'80s all-star recordings "We Are the World" and "Do They Know It's Christmas?" some of today's top rock, pop and rap stars are spending the better part of three days in a New York studio recording a song to raise awareness about AIDS and related issues in Africa. They say their goal is not so much to raise money by selling copies of the single, which will be released Dec. 1 in a bid for holiday sales. Rather, they want to remind Americans that AIDS is still a crushing problem -- especially in Africa, where it's estimated the disease will kill 3 million people next year. The artists also want to push for steps they believe will help the continent's poorest nations tackle the epidemic, including wiping away their Cold War-era debts to the World Bank, International Monetary Fund and Western governments. The song they are recording is "What's Going On," Marvin Gaye's protest anthem.

"We want to take this issue to the everyday American. To the shopping malls. To the high school kids," said Bono, leader of the band U2 and an organizer of the effort. Stars expected to add their voices include Ja Rule, Destiny's Child, Britney Spears, Mary J. Blige, Jennifer Lopez, 'N Sync and Christina Aguilera. Many pop music stars are in New York for tonight's MTV Music Awards. The network plans to air a short video about the African AIDS crisis before the awards broadcast.

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