plus: Joe, Mobb Deep, more.

No Doubt [ tickets ]
"Rock Steady" (Interscope)

For its latest album, Orange County, Calif., ska-punk-pop outfit No Doubt--featuring singer Gwen Stefani--recruited help from a variety of producers, ranging from former Cars frontman Ric Ocasek to hip-hop impresario Dr. Dre.

Although Dre�s offering didn�t make it on to "Rock Steady," those by a notable list of characters did, including contributions from funk legend Prince, producer-remixer Nellee Hooper (U2, Bjork), dance remixer William Orbit (Madonna, Blur), drum and bass duo Sly and Robby, the dancehall-reggae team of Steely and Clevie (Shabba Ranks, Maxi Priest) and Ocasek (Weezer, Guided by Voices).

Recorded in Los Angeles, Jamaica and London, "Rock Steady," No Doubt�s fifth record, features the group's latest radio hit "Hey Baby." According to Interscope, the response to "Hey Baby" forced the label to push the album�s release date up one week to Dec. 11.

No Doubt, who opened for U2 on a smattering of fall dates, will appear at 4 p.m. on Tuesday (12/11) at the Virgin Megastore in New York�s Time Square for a performance and autograph-signing. The band will then perform on "Saturday Night Live" on Dec. 15.

Stefani recently won the 2001 My VH1 Music Award for My Favorite Female Artist. The singer, during downtime between No Doubt albums, made guest appearances on singles from both Eve and Moby.

Warren G
"Return of the Regulator" (Universal)

The Long Beach hip-hop artist's latest is the follow-up to 1999's "I Want It All," and marks his first release for Universal Records. The album features the single "Lookin' at You," which entered Billboard's latest Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles Sales chart at No. 74. Fellow West Coast rapper-producer Dr. Dre produced the song, which features R&B singer Toi.

Other guests who turn up on the album include Snoop Dogg, Nate Dogg, Mista Grimm, WC, Butch Cassidy, Soopafly and El DeBarge, according to Universal.

"Lookin' at You" notwithstanding, Warren G himself produced the majority of the album's other tracks, according to a press release. Streaming audio sample of seven of the album's songs can be found at Warren G's official website.

Joe
"Better Days" (Jive/Silvertone)

Joe returns with his fourth album, "Better Days," the follow-up to 2000�s "My Name Is Joe," an album with which the R&B singer made a name for himself with the hits "Stutter" and "I Wanna Know." The single-named artist's latest features his current single, "Let's Stay Home Tonight," a track that, he recently told MTV, was inspired by the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks

The album's title track was reportedly written to inspire teen mothers, while "Ghetto Child" addresses the plight of under-privileged children. Such material is in sharp contrast to much of the singer's previous work, which largely comprises sexually overt themes.

Produced by the Neptunes, Allstar and Joe, "Better Days" features special appearances by the Boys Choir of Harlem and reggae star Shaggy. Joe, who himself has appeared on songs by Mariah Carey and �N Sync, will perform on "The Rosie O�Donnell" show on Dec. 14.

Mobb Deep
"Infamy" (Loud/Columbia)

The latest from hardcore rappers Havoc and Prodigy features eleven new tracks and guest appearances from the Isley Brothers' Ron Isley and rapper Lil' Mo.

"Infamy" was preceded by the release of an initial single, "Burn," which features Vita and Big Noyd, and is streamed on the label's official site.

According to Billboard, the duo's last album, "Murda Muzik" (1999), hit No. 3 on the Billboard 200 and has sold almost one million copies.