Rising Canadian rapper Drake has postponed the ten dates of the European leg of his concert tour due to his mother having to undergo surgery, his publicist said on Thursday.

The cancellation of shows in cities including London, Paris and Amsterdam comes right after his much anticipated debut album "Thank Me Later" was released in June and debuted at number one on the Billboard 200.

"Despite my best hopes, it is apparent that my mother will need surgery earlier than anticipated," he said in a statement. "In light of this news, I have made the difficult decision to cancel my European tour in order to support her during her recovery, just as she supported me through the years."

Drake, 23, whose full name is Aubrey Drake Graham, has been extensively touring the United States in the lead up to the European tour that was due to begin on Friday in Norway and finishing with several dates in Britain.

The former "Degrassi: The Next Generation" television actor often cites his mother as an inspiration. A spokeswoman declined comment on the type of surgery his mother was undergoing.

The European dates are being rescheduled for November and ticket-holders should retain their tickets. His Canadian tour beginning on July 16 in Ottawa remains on schedule.