As fans of The X Factor will most likely know, rapper Ne-Yo, whose real name is Shaffer Chimere Smith, assisted judge Nicole Scherzinger to choose which acts she would take through to the live shows during her Judges’ Houses stint in Dubai…

However, while speaking to The Sun today, Ne-Yo has joined the frankly tedious list of music biz celebs who reckon that X Factor singers don’t achieve fame and success the hard – or right – way.

He said, “I feel like there are so many ways to get into the business now that weren’t around when I was trying to get in. It almost makes me mad.

“You can do the TV show, you can get online and you can be a celebrity already.”

He added, “There is a lot of opportunity and I think because there is so much opportunity there isn’t as much work ethic any more…

“They don’t know what it is to bleed or to want it so bad that you can feel it in your bones and to work your fingers to the bones to get it.

“I don’t really feel that they know what that is.

“Record labels don’t do artist development any more and they aren’t nurturing talent any more.

“They are throwing them to the sharks and say, ‘Swim’ and then, ‘Next’.

“There is no guidance any more and that’s why someone will be hot for two months and then fade away.”

Yeah, see that’s what happened to Leona Lewis and One Direction… o wait, no…

However, moving on, and Nicole managed to bag what must be in the running for the biggest payout in the shortest time ever given that she earned a cool $1million for playing a 45 minute gig in Dubai this week.

She performed the 45-minute set at Dubai’s World Trade Centre for Emirates NDB bank on Thursday night.

A source said, “Even Nicole can’t turn down that sort of cash.

“It didn’t take too much time out of her schedule and she was flown in and out of Dubai in first class.

“It’s easy money.”

Nicole spent the night in Dubai before jetting back to LA to finish off her latest album.

Not a bad job if you can get it eh?