KID CUDI WILL QUIT MUSIC FOR ACTING

Kid Cudi has vowed to put down the microphone after "four or five" more albums to focus on building his acting career.

The Day 'N Nite rapper, real name Scott Mescudi, initially voiced plans to retire early from the music industry after his debut album Man on the Moon: The End of Day was released last year (09) - but he decided against quitting, insisting the rap game "needs" him.

He said last March (09): "I understand that I need y'all and y'all need me. So I can't stop."

Cudi has since landed his first acting role in Mark Wahlberg's new TV comedy series How to Make it in America - which premieres on cable channel HBO on Sunday (14Feb10) - prompting him to reconsider the direction he wants his career to go in.

He tells New York Magazine, "I’m trying to evenly balance them (music and acting) out right now, but eventually I want to leave behind music and just do acting.

"I only got into the music business to tell my story and inspire some people. I think four albums will do it, and when I’m done with my four, five albums, I’ll switch it up. Once the story is told (musically), there’s nothing else to say."