Donda West, most widely known as the mother of hip hop superstar Kanye West, passed away from undisclosed causes on Saturday. Ms. West was 58.

It was reported that the former chairwoman of Chicago State University’s English department was in Los Angeles at that time of her death. Though specific information about the cause of death has yet to be released, multiple sources have said the death was due to complications from a surgical procedure.

She may have been publicly recognized only as Kanye’s mama, but Ms. West was a noted scholar and an active college professor for 31 years. Kanye’s career took precedence in 2004 when she left teaching to devote her time to her son’s budding superstardom.

She also recently published a book tome dedicated to Kanye titled “Raising Kanye: Life Lessons from the Mother of a Hip-Hop Star.”

Kanye has been extremely vocal over the years about the profound influence and importance Donda West had in his life. On Late Registration’s “Hey Mama” Kanye screamed to the world his love and appreciation for his late mother.

In fact, the rapper has dropped references to his mom on all of his albums.

A spokesman for Kanye West released this brief statement to MTV News.

“The family respectfully asks for privacy during this time of grief.”






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