Rapper P.O.S. has scrapped his upcoming North American tour after revealing he needs a kidney transplant.

The hip-hop star was due to hit the road later this month (Oct12), but he broke the news of his health crisis in a video posted on YouTube.com on Friday (19Oct12), telling fans that he's been suffering with kidney problems for years.

The 31 year old says, "Both of my kidneys are garbage. They've been going bad since I was a teenager. It's a really inopportune timing, but, now's the time. I need a new kidney."

P.O.S., real name Stefon Alexander, went on to explain that he's been undergoing dialysis treatment for the past month and had planned to use a portable machine while on tour, but a recent visit to the emergency room has forced him to forget that idea and he's now having to rest up at home in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

However, the musician still plans to play one special gig in Minneapolis on 26 October (12) to celebrate the release of his album We Don't Even Live Here.

He adds, "It sucks to put out a record and not be able to hit the road and support it, but I gotta sit down, I gotta not play too hard... That's life, right?"