By JACOB ADELMAN, Associated Press Writer
Sun Nov 11, 6:49 PM ET



LOS ANGELES - Donda West, mother of Kanye West and former chairwoman of Chicago State University's English department, has died, a spokesman for the rapper said. She was 58.



Donda West died Saturday night in Los Angeles, said the spokesman, who asked for anonymity because not all family members had been notified.

"The family respectfully asks for privacy during this time of grief," the spokesman said.

A cause of death has not been released.

Donda West was known for the strong bond she shared with her son, by whose side she was often seen at parties and award shows.

Kanye West, 30, often spoke of his close relationship with his mother, who raised him alone after her husband left when Kanye was 3.

She was the inspiration for the song, "Hey Mama," on Kanye West's 2005 album "Late Registration," in which he sings: "Hey Mama, I wanna scream so loud for you, cuz I'm so proud of you ,  I appreciate what you allowed for me. I just want you to be proud of me."

Donda West frequently defended her son against critics who accused him of penning misogynistic lyrics and other purported transgressions.

"I support my baby," she said in a Chicago Sun-Times interview. "He is telling how he feels and he is speaking the truth as he sees it."

In May, she published the book "Raising Kanye: Life Lessons from the Mother of a Hip-Hop Star," in which she paid homage to her famous son.

Donda West served as chief executive of West Brands LLC, the parent company of her son's business enterprises, and as chairwoman of the Kanye West Foundation, an educational nonprofit that works to decrease dropout rates and improve literacy.

Kanye West told the Associated Press in August that he and his mother worked together to devise the foundation's first program, "Loop Dreams," which helps public school students get involved in music.

"Me and my mother were discussing ways to give back and came up with the concept," he said.

Donda West worked in higher education for 31 years, before leaving academia in 2004 to help manage her son's career, according to a biography on the Kanye West Foundation's Web site.

She began working at Chicago State University in 1980 and eventually chaired the school's English department, according to the site. She started her teaching career in the early 1970s as an instructor at Brown College in Atlanta.

Kanye West's writing partner Rhymefest lamented Donda West's death Sunday in an appearance on Chicago radio station WCGI.

"She was everyone's mom," Rhymefest said.

May her soul rest in peace.

I love Kanye and I wish him well, may her gentle(?) soul rest in peace.s he was obviously a good mother.
Word on the streets is that she died of the same thing that killed ex-first lady.
I actually read "raising Kanye". It was not a very good book, the book was all about Kanye is always right, I gave him everything he wanted, I dumped my boyfriends that didn't like him . . .

n-guage:

Word on the streets is that she died of the same thing that killed ex-first lady.

yep, cosmetic surgery , her tummy tuck didnt work well with her body

young_digi:

yes, cosmetic surgery , her tummy tuck didnt work well with her body

women no dey ever learn

may her soul rest in perfect peace, she is gone to soon

Met her once at Chi-town bout 2yrs ago.

Wondaful lady y'all- wit a great sense of humor n' a nice passion for music

R.I.P "Mama West"

Lady temi:

By JACOB ADELMAN, Associated Press Writer
Sun Nov 11, 6:49 PM ET



LOS ANGELES - Donda West, mother of Kanye West and former chairwoman of Chicago State University's English department, has died, a spokesman for the rapper said. She was 58.



Donda West died Saturday night in Los Angeles, said the spokesman, who asked for anonymity because not all family members had been notified.

"The family respectfully asks for privacy during this time of grief," the spokesman said.

A cause of death has not been released.

Donda West was known for the strong bond she shared with her son, by whose side she was often seen at parties and award shows.

Kanye West, 30, often spoke of his close relationship with his mother, who raised him alone after her husband left when Kanye was 3.

She was the inspiration for the song, "Hey Mama," on Kanye West's 2005 album "Late Registration," in which he sings: "Hey Mama, I want to scream so loud for you, because I'm so proud of you , I appreciate what you allowed for me. I just want you to be proud of me."

Donda West frequently defended her son against critics who accused him of penning misogynistic lyrics and other purported transgressions.

"I support my baby," she said in a Chicago Sun-Times interview. "He is telling how he feels and he is speaking the truth as he sees it."

In May, she published the book "Raising Kanye: Life Lessons from the Mother of a Hip-Hop Star," in which she paid homage to her famous son.

Donda West served as chief executive of West Brands LLC, the parent company of her son's business enterprises, and as chairwoman of the Kanye West Foundation, an educational nonprofit that works to decrease dropout rates and improve literacy.

Kanye West told the Associated Press in August that he and his mother worked together to devise the foundation's first program, "Loop Dreams," which helps public school students get involved in music.

"Me and my mother were discussing ways to give back and came up with the concept," he said.

Donda West worked in higher education for 31 years, before leaving academia in 2004 to help manage her son's career, according to a biography on the Kanye West Foundation's Web site.

She began working at Chicago State University in 1980 and eventually chaired the school's English department, according to the site. She started her teaching career in the early 1970s as an instructor at Brown College in Atlanta.

Kanye West's writing partner Rhymefest lamented Donda West's death Sunday in an appearance on Chicago radio station WCGI.

"She was everyone's mom," Rhymefest said.

May her soul rest in peace.

I LIKE DUDE'S ALBUM HE TALK ABOUT REALITY R.I.P HIS MOM.

when i heard the news i was shocked cuz she was young and it happen so sudden.

now i know why kanye sounds so learned and exposed. i guess we'll be seeing a new version of Nas. U know Godson. Dance, Heaven, Thugz Mansion.

Like nas said
[center]if it don't kill u makes u stronger
and it gets ur paper longer [/center]

they said she died of complications after surgery and that oprah was the one who introduced the two. kanye's mom was trying to get lipo and she wasn't suppose to get surgery because of the medical condition she had. they told her that she had to get an "OK" from her her doctor before getting the surgery, but she didn't.

heard about the lipo thingy,RIP to Momma west o..now I know one more thing not to get my mom when am rich, no lipo mum,i love u the way you are, one love to man,woman and child

I cant even start imagining the pain Kanyeezy must be feeling right now.We are with you in your time of grief man.RIP Ma

Isnt it the same lipo thing that killed Stella hmmm should women still be taking that operation?