Photo: Jason Merritt/WireImage.And he's doing it with his new controversial album art.
Malik released the cover of his new album, Mind of Mine, on Instagram earlier this week. Immediately, his millions of followers started oohing and ahhing over the adorable baby Malik.
Adding some edge to his baby-faced self, Malik had the image photoshopped to include sleeves of tattoos.
But others were quick to point out that they had seen a very similar, if not nearly identical, album cover before, on Lil Wayne's Tha Carter IV .
lil wayne vs lil zayn: who did it best pic.twitter.com/uGd39JnvRi
— M (@mickeyatnight) February 18, 2016
Does this mean we should start calling him Lil Zayn?
But one Twitter user, southsidezain, pointed out that Malik's photo isn't really copying or stealing anything unique. It is instead using an idea that has been recycled, time and time again.
Lil Wayne didn't trademark using baby pictures as cover art fam. Zayn just following legends that's it. pic.twitter.com/3ZTnk2d1fS
— F. Al Maskati (@southsidezain) February 18, 2016
Above is a collage of album covers featuring Malik alongside Notorious B.I.G., Nas, and Drake. All of these hit albums feature a cover photo of a young version of the artist.
Malik has also been posting teasers on his Snapchat of a "Pillowtalk" remix featuring a rapped verse. The rapper in the clip sounds distinctly like Lil Wayne. Enough so that LilWayneHQ.com is saying that the two are definitely collaborating together.
So, would Lil Wayne collaborate with a former boy band member who stole his album cover idea? Probably not. Which means we're going to assume it's all good between the two.
Listen to the brief clip from the remix below.
via YouTube.
Like what you see? How about some more R29 goodness, right here?
Ronda Rousey Reveals She Was Suicidal After Her Big UFC Loss
Angelina Jolie: "I Never Wanted To Have A Baby"
Kanye Almost Walked Off SNL: Hear The Rant