'This is my bulls---,' Terrence Howard said as he introduced his album in an exclusive Spinner listening session. The Academy Award-nominated actor and self-taught guitar player glided into our New York office and previewed seven tracks off his upcoming album, 'Shine Through It,' which he finished, along with his 13 piece band, in six days.

"I'm no singer; I sing the way I talk," Howard admitted before pushing Play on the stereo. His raspy singing voice -- which can be easily compared to that of Seal or Ben Harper -- belts out introspective lyrics over horns, flutes and his own guitar riffs. "Every song is a different story for me," explains the actor turned musician, who was heavily inspired by beautiful women and precious love stories.

Looks like rapper Nas and the Black Crowes have something in common ... besides their connection to all-star classic rock. The New York-based rapper was jarred, much like Chris Robinson and Co., when the lad mag -- known for its revealing pics of female actresses and models -- gave his upcoming album a 2 1/2-star review.

The rap star, who's been making hits since the mid '90s, wasn't dismayed by the thought of receiving a less than stellar critique, but was instead surprised that Maxim could even have an opinion on the incomplete project. A music reviewer at Maxim panned the Crowes' new album, 'Warpaint,' in the same fashion, and later admitted that he never even heard the LP.

The Crowes were bothered, to say the least, by the faux review. Nas, on the other hand, isn't as perturbed by the magazine's insubstantial opinion of his new project ... especially since the rapper hasn't even finished it.

"I'm finishing the album now, and it will be out April 22," Nas told the New York Post's Page Six. "I'd prefer [a review from] Playboy," Nas said. "That kind of stuff doesn't reach my radar or effect anybody around me. I don't know what a music rating from Maxim is ... I don't know what it even means really."

The Black Crowes themselves are not letting Maxim wriggle off the hook quite as easily as Nas seems to have. The wronged rockers have rejected the magazine's explanation for its non-review review and are demanding a public apology, calling the conciliatory words it has offered "self-serving damage control."

The Philadelphia-bred Roots crew jumped in the studio with New York indie band TV on the Radio's Kyp Malone and Tunde Adebimpe to record a track for the film, 'Soundtrack for a Revolution.' The Danny Glover-produced documentary will feature contemporary artists reworking Civil Rights Movement-themed protest songs. Soul singer Anthony Hamilton, jazz trio Soulive and the Blind Boys of Alabama also contributed to the project.

Although it's unknown which protest/freedom song the Roots reworked, we do know that the group's frontman Black Thought sounded pretty darn good in his new role as singer, according to Okayplayer.com.

In other Roots news, the outfit have recruited some big names for their next project, dubbed 'Rising Down,' which is due in April. Mos Def, Fall Out Boy's Patrick Stump and Common are set to appear on the group's next effort, and rumors are swirling that A Tribe Called Quest's Q-Tip and Lupe Fiasco may also appear.

Stating the obvious, eclectic alt-rap duo Gnarls Barkley has dubbed their new album, 'The Odd Couple.' Danger Mouse and Cee-Lo are still in the lab working on new material for the follow-up to their critically-acclaimed debut, 'St. Elsewhere,' and have reportedly laid down tracks in Los Angeles and Atlanta.

While the duo puts the finishing touches on their sophomore effort, a new track entitled 'Run' is making its rounds on the internet. According to GnarlsBarkley.com, 'The Odd Couple' will hit stores in April.

In the meantime, fans can check out Danger Mouse's production skills on the forthcoming Black Keys album, entitled 'Attack & Release,' the Shortwave Set's tentatively-titled 'Replica Sun Machine' and Martina Topley-Bird's new project, 'The Blue God.'

Danger Mouse is already quite busy in the new year. The musical auteur is working with British alt-pop trio the Shortwave Set on their upcoming album, tentatively-dubbed 'Replica Sun Machine.' The producer is adding a little bang to the psychedelic outfit's sound with the help of a 24-piece orchestra led by former child star-turned-musical genius Van Dyke Parks. Also, Velvet Underground's John Cale broke out the viola for 'Replica Sun Machine.'

Danger Mouse and Cee-Lo are also back in the lab working on new material for Gnarls Barkley's follow-up to their critically-acclaimed debut, 'St. Elsewhere.' Rumor has it that the two are recording in a secret studio location near Atlanta.

Fans can also check out Danger's work on the forthcoming Black Keys album, entitled 'Attack & Release,' and Martina Topley-Bird's new project, 'The Blue God.'

Over 3,000 eager Wu-Tang Clan fans piled into New York's Hammerstein Ballroom on January 12 to see the eight man act rip the roof off the venue. The crowd waited for three hours before the GZA, Method Man, Ghostface Killah, Inspectah Deck, Raekwon, U-God and Masta Killa stormed the stage with a deep entourage of Killa Bees in tow -- but no RZA. Before the audience could object to the RZA's absence, the crew launched into 'Wu-Tang Clan Ain't Nothing to F--- With,' before performing every single Wu-Tang hit.

"The energy you give to us ... we gonna give back to ya'll," Method Man -- known for stage diving and crowd surfing --assured. Meth delivered a rousing rendition of 'Method Man' before passing the microphone over to Raekwon for 'Criminology' and 'Ice Cream.' Get the full story at the BoomBox.

If image really was everything, one would naturally assume that a conversation with Spank Rock -- aka rapper Naeem Juwan, complemented by a rotating crew of producers -- would be more like a segment from a 'Girls Gone Wild' video, or 2 a.m. in any club at [insert the name of your favorite party school here] during homecoming weekend, or even a lunch date with Uncle Luke of 2 Live Crew fame. Instead, the frontman is actually the typical boy-next-door type. We sat down with the Baltimore-bred, Philly-based rapper to discuss his latest project, 'Benny Blanco & Spank Rock Present: Bangers and Cash.' But the prince of dirty rap – Baltimore style -- comes off more as a sheepish schoolboy than the crude MC responsible for songs like 'Put That P---- on Me' and 'B.O.O.T.A.Y.' In a time when some might criticize hip-hop for taking itself too seriously, with rappers committing actual criminal acts instead of rhyming about it, Spank Rock might have figured it all out with a hardcore persona that's simply an act, not a lifestyle.

Can you describe your sound for those unfamiliar with Spank Rock?

Yeah, that's difficult. One, I'm a rapper. I choose words that rhyme and then I say them with authority. I think what makes it interesting is the producers I decide to use. I got [Armani] XXXchange; he used to be in this punk band called Zero Zero. His influences are, like, Quincy Jones and Phil Spector. We like really old, good music, you know? Stuff like our moms and grandmas used to listen to. But then we mix it all with a lot of new stuff. I don't know if you can imagine the Ronettes being mixed with Baltimore club music, but that happens sometimes -- with Spank Rock, anyway.