First came the rumors: The Backstreet Boys are breaking up. Then came the denials: The Fab Five parade through TRL insisting there is no - repeat, no -- end in sight for the original Orlando-born boy band. Now, after nearly two years, two marriages and A.J.'s stint in rehab (which only further fueled gossip about a split), the Backstreet Boys have finally started work on their fourth album. Then we heard that resident hunk Nick Carter is working on solo material. So what's up?

"This is my chance to try everything that's been stored in my mind musically since I was 12 years old," says Nick, who's making beats behind a high-tech soundboard at his Los Angeles studio. "It's my release." He's wearing silver-rimmed glasses that give him an I'm-not-just-another-dumb-heartthrob look. "The best part about doing this is that there are no boundaries. There are certain things we can't do on a Backstreet record, like rocking out on a song," he says, strumming the guitar that he keeps in the studio. Yep, you heard right...Nick is ready to rock. "I know everyone will say, 'Oh, he's trying to do rock,' But that's what I grew up listening to. I've influenced by groups like Stone Temple Pilots and classic stuff like Creedence Clearwater Revival."

The 22-year-old tells us he's experimenting with a harder, more guitar-based sound. He hopes to show off some of his drum and guitar skills--he's been playing both for a while now -- on the album. He's also considering teaming up with an established female rocker. "I'd like to do a duet with a girl, someone like Michelle Branch, Shakria or Alanis Morissette," says Nick, adding that he hasn't made any decisions yet. But afte hearing him sing over a fast-paced but still pretty poppy track, we're not quite convinced that he's abandoning his roots altogether. After all, he is working a bit with producer Max Martin, the Swedish mastermind behind several Backstreet Boys, 'N Sync and Britney songs. But several days later, we're told that Nick has decided not to include- or even finish recording - the cut we heard him work on. Guess Nick thought that it was too pop-influenced as well.

Flying solo is also giving Nick the chance to get personal. Though he's contributed to several Backstreet tunes throughout the years ("True" and "Take the Pain Way", to name a couple), he's written more than half the songs on this album. So what topics can we expect to hear him sing about? Love--or more specifically, lack of it. "I've been a heartbroken kid for a while," Nick explains. "I haven't had a girlfriend in a long time. The record has to do with wanting love. But I also sing about being 22 and a little bit crazy."

Ummm, crazy? We hadn't pegged the cute singer as a psycho, but Nick promises that he's about to bust out his wild side--especially if he decides to embark on a solo tour (a choice he'll make after the as-yet-untiled album is finished). "I haven't had a chance to lose my mind on stage," he says. "I've been a little restrained. Kevin and the guys want to be more respected. They're always aware and cautious and don't want to be looked at in a certain way. Me, I don't care. You can look at me any way you want."

After hearing that, we're beginning to worry there's more truth to those break-up rumors than we had thought. We put in a call to Jive Records, the label behind the group, and presumably, Nick's solo record, to get the truth. Their rep assures us that the guys -- including Nick -- will begin recording in Sweden in July. She says that while Nick is working on his own material, it's too early for the label to have scheduled a release date for his album. Sounds believable. Besides, Nick himself insists he has no plans to leave BSB behind and claims they've been supportive of his new project -- well, for the most part.

"Sometimes there can be a little bit of animosity in certain places," he says, offering no details. "But at the end of the day, this is something I want to do very badly. I know they won't hold me back." He also brushes off talk about conflict within the group over which record to release first. "They are both up in the air. My album is coming along a little further," he says. "Of all the groups out there, I think we have some of the most talented people. I think we could all be individually successful and have fun doing it by ourselves. When I hear rumors about us breaking up, I toss them out the window, because it's not true. I've been with a group since I was 12 and I just wanted to try something different. A lot of people said, 'Don't do it. It's the wrong time.' I guess I was thinking, When is the right time?" And with that, he heads into the sound booth, looking happy to be singing his own tune.