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Kanye West's Mother Dies After Surgery

Complications developed following cosmetic procedure

By Caroline Zimmerman,  Newser User

Posted Nov 12, 2007 10:30 AM CST

(Newser) – Kanye West's mother died in Los Angeles Saturday after complications developed following a "cosmetic procedure," her publicist said today. Dr. Donda West, 58, a retired English professor, inspired the hip-hop superstar's 2005 hit "Hey Mama." No cause of death was released, and the family requested "privacy during this time of grief," CNN reports.

Donda West resigned the English department chair at Chicago State University in 2004 to become her son's manager. She was the co-author of this year's Raising Kanye: Life Lessons from the Mother of a Hip-Hop Superstar. "She was everyone's mom," said Kanye's artistic collaborator Rhymefest.

Rapper Kanye West arrives at the Us Weekly Hot Hollywood 2007 party in Los Angeles, Wednesday, Sept. 26, 2007. (AP Photo/Kevork Djansezian)
Rapper Kanye West arrives at the "Us Weekly Hot Hollywood 2007" party in Los Angeles, Wednesday, Sept. 26, 2007. (AP Photo/Kevork Djansezian)   (Associated Press)
Singer Kanye West performs with his mother, Donda West, outdoors during a taping of The Ellen DeGeneres Show, in this May, 2006 file photo, in Burbank, Calif.  A spokesman for West said Donda West died Saturday night in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes, file)
Singer Kanye West performs with his mother, Donda West, outdoors during a taping of "The Ellen DeGeneres Show," in this May, 2006 file photo, in Burbank, Calif. A spokesman for West said Donda West died...   (Associated Press)
Singer Kanye West, right, and his girlfriend, model Alexis Phifer pose on the press line at the Murakami Exhibition Gala honoring Louis Vuitton artistic director Marc Jacobs in Los Angeles on Sunday, October 28, 2007. (AP Photo/Dan Steinberg)
Singer Kanye West, right, and his girlfriend, model Alexis Phifer pose on the press line at the Murakami Exhibition Gala honoring Louis Vuitton artistic director Marc Jacobs in Los Angeles on Sunday,...   (Associated Press)
Kanye West performs at GQ Magazine's 50th anniversary party on Tuesday, Sept. 18, 2007, in New York.  (AP Photo/John Smock)
Kanye West performs at GQ Magazine's 50th anniversary party on Tuesday, Sept. 18, 2007, in New York. (AP Photo/John Smock)   (Associated Press)
Kanye West starts the BET Hip Hop Awards Saturday, Oct. 13, 2007 in Atlanta. West is up for six awards. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)
Kanye West starts the BET Hip Hop Awards Saturday, Oct. 13, 2007 in Atlanta. West is up for six awards. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)   (Associated Press)
Kanye West performs at the launch of the new T-Mobile Sidekick LX at The Clubhouse in Los Angeles on Oct. 16, 2007 (AP Photo/Chris Polk)
Kanye West performs at the launch of the new T-Mobile Sidekick LX at The Clubhouse in Los Angeles on Oct. 16, 2007 (AP Photo/Chris Polk)   (Associated Press)
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COMMENTS
Showing 1 of 1 comment
n230099
May 28, 2011 7:30 AM CDT
With apologies to Ferlinghetti, "I am Waiting" for it to be Bush's fault.

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