Diddy Announces His Musical Retirement: ‘The Only Thing That Lives on Like Religion is Music’

(MTV)

(MTV)

Sean “Diddy” Combs announced he is retiring from music to focus on a movie career. The 46-year-old business mogul said he wants to go out with a bang.

“I’m going to put out my last album and devote 100 percent of my time to doing films … I want to stop at a great place,” said the fashion designer to Cigar Aficionado. “And a final album is a great place to stop. I want to take a victory lap, to do a world tour and really enjoy it one last time.”

The revelation follows Diddy’s proclamation that his next album, “No Way Out 2” will be his last.

Entertainment Weekly reported he dropped his surprise album called “MMM” in November. The rapper released a statement saying, “I couldn’t think of a better way to celebrate my birthday than to gift my fans with MMM for free today. ” ‘MMM’ is a thank you to my fans and is just the beginning, a prelude to what will be my final album, ‘No Way Out 2.’ ”

Cigar Aficionado

Cigar Aficionado

Though the album, a follow up to 1997’s “No Way Out,” doesn’t have a release date yet, Puff says it will cement his legacy.

“When I’m gone, only the songs will survive,” Diddy told Cigar Aficionado. “I know I’m making music that will live on. I don’t go into the studio just to be hot or to hear myself on the radio. Michael Jackson, Tupac, Biggie — part of them lives on in their music, even though they’re not here anymore. That’s really deep, man. The only thing like that is religion.”

Since the rapper-turned-actor has not consistently released new material, he wants the new album to be his best and “grab attention.” He plans to make songs that are “the most honest and best that [he] can.”

Another change will be the amount of time the philanthropist spends with his six children.

“I have such a deep appreciation [of] being able to be a father,” Diddy told Cigar Aficionado. “My father didn’t get the chance to be there for me. That makes me appreciate the opportunity that much more deeply. I stress the importance of that to my kids — that you can’t take having a family for granted.”

Diddy has been giving his fans their money’s worth in his last year in music. In March, he announced plans for a Bad Boy family reunion concert. Rap-up reports the one-night-only event will take place May 20 at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York.

Besides himself, Faith Evans, Lil’ Kim, Ma$e, French Montana, Total, 112, and Mario Winans are slated to appear. The celebration will also include special performances by Jay Z and Mary J. Blige.

“This isn’t just another concert — this is hip-hop history,” Diddy said in a statement.

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