One Direction star Liam Payne isn't wasting any time as he embarks on a solo career during the boy band's hiatus - he's already in the studio recording new tracks with rapper Juicy J and 808 Mafia producer TM 88.

One Direction kicked off what is expected to be an 18-month break just before Christmas (15), and two weeks after news leaked about Harry Styles registering four new songs with performing rights organization ASCAP, bandmate Liam has featured in a studio shot posted by Juicy J.

In the snap, the pop star poses between the rapper and the producer, and a source tells Billboard the trio recorded a bunch of new material, with Payne showing off both his singing and rapping skills.

There are, however, no plans to release any new material from the session.

Meanwhile, it's an important year for Three 6 Mafia star Juicy J, as it marks the 10th anniversary of his Oscars Best Song win for It's Hard Out Here For a Pimp from Hustle & Flow.