Liam Payne Didn't Even Try To Play It cool with Drake backstage

'Liam Payne may be hard at work on his breakout solo album, but, hey:

Pop stars need some nights off, and he made a point to take a break from the studio to say hey to one of his favorite rappers after a gig in jolly ol' Londontown.

Drake played the O2 Arena in the British capital on February 15, and Payne snuck backstage for a pic with this "genius."

Does this mean a collaboration's in the cards? 

Both Payne and Drake have their respective plates full thanks to international tours (Drake's in the U.K. through February 23 and returns there in March), Young Money reunions, and (potentially) impending fatherhood.

It looks like this was simply a guy working his connections to catch a show and say hey to the star afterward.

Who knows, though: Maybe Drake's keeping tabs on the singer, and thinks he's a genius, too.'

via MTV