Naughty Boy misses his friendship with Zayn Malik.

The 'Runnin' (Lose It All)' star fell out with the former One Direction singer earlier this year and a war of words on social media followed, but he's hopeful they'll resolve their differences one day because their relationship was ''100 per cent'' genuine.

Asked if he misses the troubled star, Naughty boy told The Guardian newspaper: ''I did, for a bit, not gonna lie. I was literally always at his house or here (at my studio) ... Our friendship was genuine, 100 per cent.''

He added: ''I don't think we actually fell out over the lack of friendship or trust, I think it was external influences.''

Zayn, 22, branded Naughty Boy - whose real name is Shahid Khan - a ''fat joke'' on Twitter following allegations he leaked a recording online of the singer's unheard solo material.

Naughty boy snapped: ''I didn't leak it. Krept, who is on the tune with Zayn, Snapchatted it. No one put it on YouTube or nothing. I genuinely didn't leak the video.''

However, the 30-year-old rapper is adamant that's not the reason their friendship came to an abrupt halt anyway, but has remained tight-lipped on the real reason.

He said: ''That was ... that was just him throwing his toys out of the pram. We fell out over something else.''

Despite being upset by their bust-up, the 'La La La' hitmaker doesn't think it's the right ''time'' to pick up the phone and attempt to make amends with the hunk.

He explained: ''I don't think now's the time. I think Zayn's incredibly talented and his voice is amazing and the world doesn't know that yet. The world doesn't know how gifted he actually is, so I think the best thing for him to do now is to go a bit radio silent and let the music do the talking.''