Kanye West’s Mom Dies

By: Shannon Gossage

Donda West, 58, was brought into Centinela Freeman Regional Medical Center Saturday, A spokeswoman for the hospital said that hospital staff did all they could but West was pronounced dead shortly after being admitted around 8:30 p.m. Saturday evening. She was reportedly at home before being brought into the hospital. It has not been released what caused her death, what surgical procedures she had undergone, or where she had the surgery. A spokeswoman for the hospital said, "We would like to clarify she did not have any surgeries or procedures done at our facilities." An autopsy has been scheduled for Tuesday to determine the exact cause of death. A statement was released by Island Def Jam, Kanye West’s record label, saying, "The family respectfully asks for privacy during this time of grief."

Kanye and Donda were extremely close. She raised him as a single parent after his father, Ray, left the family when Kanye was only around 1 year old. She worked as a teacher for years and in 2004 she retired from her position of chairwoman for the English Department at Chicago State. She then began work as Kanye’s manager. She also was the head of Super Good, Kanye’s business empire that includes apparel, accessories, and other products. Donda was also the chairwoman of the Kanye West Foundation, an educational non-profit organization that helps prevent literacy and decrease dropout rates.

She also co-wrote a book about her relationship with her son called Raising Kanye: Life Lessons from the Mother of a Hip-Hop Superstar. Kanye paid tribute to his mother on the sing "Hey Mama" from his 2005 effort Late Registration. He said during an interview a few years back; "I never make any important decisions without consulting her."