LOS ANGELES - Donda West, mother of <span id="lw_1194825015_0" class="yshortcuts" style="border-bottom: 1px dashed rgb(0, 102, 204); cursor: pointer;">Kanye West</span> and former chairwoman of Chicago State University's English department, has died, a spokesman for the rapper said. She was 58.</p> <div class="lrec"><script language="javascript"> if(window.yzq_d==null)window.yzq_d=new Object(); window.yzq_d['5xs5OdG_RvY-']='&U=13b64t7s9%2fN%3d5xs5OdG_RvY-%2fC%3d622113.11571601.12072979.1442997%2fD%3dLREC%2fB%3d4950650'; </script><noscript><img width=1 height=1 alt="" src="http://us.bc.yahoo.com/b?P=jLovr9G_Rt2BIbN.Rs0JLRCYRrR.e0c318cADuqz&T=1atcvc2at%2fX%3d1194842055%2fE%3d46079015%2fR%3dnews%2fK%3d5%2fV%3d2.1%2fW%3dH%2fY%3dYAHOO%2fF%3d3245851316%2fH%3dY2FjaGVoaW50PSJuZXdzIiBjb250ZW50PSJpdDtidXNpbmVzcztnaXZlO2VkdWNhdGlvbjtoZWxwO3 JlZnVybF9uZXdzX3NlYXJjaF95YWhvb19jb20iIHJlZnVybD0icmVmdXJsX25ld3Nfc2VhcmNoX3lhaG9 vX2NvbSIgdG9waWNzPSJyZWZ1cmxfbmV3c19zZWFyY2hfeWFob29fY29tIg--%2fQ%3d-1%2fS%3d1%2fJ%3d7847BFD1&U=13b64t7s9%2fN%3d5xs5OdG_RvY-%2fC%3d622113.11571601.12072979.1442997%2fD%3dLREC%2fB%3d4950650"></noscript></div> Donda West died Saturday night in <span id="lw_1194825015_1" class="yshortcuts" style="border-bottom: 1px dashed rgb(0, 102, 204); background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 50%; cursor: pointer; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial;">Los Angeles</span>, said the spokesman, who asked for anonymity because not all family members had been notified.</p> "The family respectfully asks for privacy during this time of grief," the spokesman said.</p> A cause of death has not been released.</p> 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.</p> Kanye West, 30, often spoke of his close relationship with his mother, who raised him alone after her husband left when Kanye was 3.</p> 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."</p> Donda West frequently defended her son against critics who accused him of penning misogynistic lyrics and other purported transgressions.</p> "I support my baby," she said in a <span id="lw_1194825015_2" class="yshortcuts" style="border-bottom: 1px dashed rgb(0, 102, 204); cursor: pointer;">Chicago Sun-Times interview</span>. "He is telling how he feels and he is speaking the truth as he sees it."</p> 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.</p> 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.</p> 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.</p> "Me and my mother were discussing ways to give back and came up with the concept," he said.</p> 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.</p> She began working at <span id="lw_1194825015_3" class="yshortcuts" style="border-bottom: 1px dashed rgb(0, 102, 204); background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 50%; cursor: pointer; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial;">Chicago State University</span> 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 <span id="lw_1194825015_4" class="yshortcuts" style="border-bottom: 1px dashed rgb(0, 102, 204); background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 50%; cursor: pointer; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial;">Atlanta</span>.</p> Kanye West's writing partner <span id="lw_1194825015_5" class="yshortcuts" style="border-bottom: 1px dashed rgb(0, 102, 204); cursor: pointer;">Rhymefest</span> lamented Donda West's death Sunday in an appearance on Chicago radio station WCGI.</p> "She was everyone's mom," Rhymefest said. "A spirit never dies, a spirit lasts forever."</p>
RIP Ms. West.</p> Gotta think Kanye's taking this pretty bad. He was close with his moms, and he just seems like the type of guy who'd have a tough time handling this.</p>
Kanye's mother was the most important person in his life if you listen to his songs. He's probably in shambles over it, especially when you consider how sudden it was and the circumstances.</p>
R.I.P Donda West</p> Kanye was very close to his mom, this is going to be tough for him. I hope he can keep going and possibly dedicate his music to his mom.</p>
It's being report it was after a 'cosmetic procedure'...nothing specific yet. Regardless, very sad news.</p>
I heard on the radio this morning in a statement that she was getitng a "tummy tuck" and breast implants. I believe it was from her publicist or something. If thats what happened, what a shitty way to die.</p>
