One Direction News 2015: Zayn Malik Leaving to Pursue Solo Rap Career?

By Virnelli Mercader, Christian Post Contributor Wednesday, February 25, 2015

Is Zayn Malik about to leave One Direction to start a rap career?

Hollywoodlife is reporting that though the boys are hard at work on their fifth studio album, they're also making plans for their respective careers in the future.

"The lads are already making plans after One Direction," an insider told the website. "Liam [Payne] and Niall [Horan] are hoping to work together on new projects. Zayn wants to go into rap and has been working with Naughty Boy."

The source also claims that Harry Styles is planning to channel his inner rock star and record an edgy rock album.

However, Gossip Cop investigated the story and says that the report is untrue. A One Direction insider told Gossip Cop that Malik and Styles are "both in the studio working on new material for the new One Direction album." And as for previous reports about Payne and Louis Tomlinson working with Good Charlotte and Nickelback, the site's source claims that the tracks are also for the same One Direction album. The source adds that the boys often "work separately and bring the songs to each other when deciding what's going to be recorded for the album."

Malik also made headlines last week after he was forced to walk off stage after feeling far too ill to perform at their concert in Australia. It was reported that the boy band was just three songs into their concert in Perth, Australia when Malik made his exit. Horan later informed the crowds that Malik was too unwell to return.

"Zayn was taken ill during the show but it's nothing serious. He wasn't feeling that great beforehand but he tried to get through the performances as well as he could. Everyone is hoping he'll be well enough for their next gig," a spokesperson for the group told Yahoo!