Monday, November 12, 2007

Kanye West's Mother Cause of Death Revealed

CNN is reporting that Kanye's mother died due to complications of plastic surgery. I'd actually read that on a message board yesterday, but didn't want to print it until I got it from a more reputable source.

49 comments:

R in ATL said...

damn shame if it's true.

R in ATL said...

The cause of death has not been confirmed, though rumors have been spreading that her death was a result of complications from cosmetic surgery.

Chicago rapper Rhymefest, who co-wrote the hit "Jesus Walks," confirmed Dr. West's death to radio station WCGI. [Listen here]

"Kanye called me up this morning, at about 10 o'clock in the morning my time, he was in London," Rhymefest told the radio station. "He let me know that his mom, Dr. West, passed."

Rhymefest said Kanye West is still struggling to absorb the news about his mother.

"I don't think it really hit him yet, but I'm asking Chicago to pray and send your prayers and your love out to my brother and to his family," Rhymefest said.

Kanye West frequently spoke of his mother in his music, and dedicated an entire track to her in "Hey Mama" off his second release, Late Registration.

Dr. West, who authored the tell-all book Raising Kanye, was chair of the English department at Chicago State University before leaving her position to serve as Kanye's manager.

Rhymefest said in addition to managing her son's career, she acted as a mother and mentor for the entire circle.

"She was a mother to everybody ... We all came in the crib and she fed us when we had nothin', when there was no record deals. She brought us in," he said. "She was a mother for a community, and a mother for one of Chicago's greatest heroes."

Unknown said...

Complications from plastic surgery? Tragic. She appeared to be a beautiful woman who was aging well. Let's hope that Dr. West did not sucuumb to the "Workout Plan" type of misogyny that tells women that they have to look a certain way to be attractive, particularly to men.

Anonymous said...

Ladies this is a wake up call ,,there is no quick fix to a nice body,,,work out and eat right,,plain and simple,,,sad!

Anonymous said...

@ S,
I agree totally. This is tragic no matter the cause, but if cosmetic surgery was the culprit it is all the more sad. RIP Sister West.

Anonymous said...

HEr greatest work.. her son seemed like she raised him well. RIP

Peachizz said...

My sincere Condolences to the entire West Family. May God grant you the strength, and the serenity to accept things you cannot changes. God bless you all.

Unknown said...

BlACK WOMEN....STOP THE PLASTIC SURGERY...YOU ARE THE WAY GOD MEANT FOR YOU TO BE......IF A MAN DOES NOT LIKE YOU FOR YOU THEN LET HIM FIND ANOTHER......SAD

Anonymous said...

Happy Founders Day to the lovely ladies of Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority INC. 85 years of service and lovin it

Anonymous said...

R.I.P Mother West

Anonymous said...

RIP TO MS WEST
WHA WAS SHE TRYNA HAVE DONE
DAS A COLD WAY TO GO

WWW.MYSPACE.COM/THAGRINDAHOLIC
CHECK THA NEW KNOCK "MISS CARWASH"

Anonymous said...

if so why! she wasnt huge or horribly ugly! she was no dime piece ( many of us arent) but there was no need for her to put herself in that position!

Condolenses to Kanye! losing a mother is the absolute worst! its been 4 years for me and it still feels like yesterday!

Anonymous said...

lost my mom due to breast cancer last year in march that shit hurts like it was yesturday finding out about kanye mom felt like that same wound openned up again just pray he comes out that slump stronger than ever she was my best friend like she was his you are in my prays and i know when you get over this he will truely be unstoppable

Anonymous said...

It don't matter what she died from, I am still feeling sad like I lost my own mama hearing this.

My heart is saddened for Kanye & his family

*smdh*
.... especially around the holidays.

Anonymous said...

Damn!!! Kanye had that remix "Throw Some D's on That Bi*@#" talking about how women should get breast implants and tummy tucks. TRAGIC!!!!

Anonymous said...

TRAGIC!!!!

This The Remix, I Mean I Aint Really Into Rims And All That, If Ima Spend 5, 10 Stacks On Some D's, Its Gon' Be Some Different Type Of D's, Na'm Sayin, Na Mean, Hm

Kanye Got Stacks, Ya Already Know That
Louie That, Gucci This, Just Got A Model Chick
Just Got A Stripper Chick, Somethin Feel Difer-Ent
Cute Lil College Chick, Now She On A Scholarship
Just Got A School Grant, Spent That On Some New Tits
Aint That A True Bitch?, Lemme Show Ya How To Do This Shit

Get You A Cute Chick, Face Got Potential
Workin Wit A Lil Hips, Waist Like A Pencil
Nah A Nigga Play You, But You Know How 'ye Do
Say She Love Beyonce, Let Me "Upgrade You"
Spanish Chick Grab My Chain, Ask "Is That Hey-Sus?"
If Im Unfaithful, Blame It On The Grey Goose
All Of My Friends, Say Implants A Selfish Gift,They All Up In
She Aint Pregnant But About To Have Twins
Now Is It Real Love, Need To Ask Cupid, Uh
She Real Smart But Her Ass Stupid
And She Don' Finish School And Got All Type Of Degrees
But I Betcha That Ya Never Had Them D's

Kanye Got Stacks, Ya Already Know That
Louie That, Gucci This, Just Got A Model Chick
Just Got A Stripper Chick, Man Thats A Prerequisite
Cute Chick Livin Good,, Down Her In Holloywood
Upcoming Actress, But She Gotta Flat Chest
Now They Give Her Access, Lemme Tell Ya What Happened

Walking Down Melrose Spot, Where They Sell Clothes
That Chick Know She Bad, Tell By The Chloe Bag
She Aint No Hoodrat, She Aint Gotta Prove That
I Peep The Mccartney's, Stella Got Her Groove Back
Holdup, Let Me Ask You, Why You Spend Ya Money On That Shallow Shit?
Y 'ont You Buy Some Bigger Tits, Something That'll Last You
I Could Really Tell You If Halle's Really Real
But Ima Let You Know Soon As I Get A Chance To Feel
I Dont Need No Hands, To Know Lindsey Lohan, On The Same Program As Britney, Is You Wit Me?
That's Why I Respect Alicia Keys, She Say Fuck Gettin Them D's
Ima Just Ride Wit These

Kanye Got Stacks, Ya Already Know That
Louie That, Gucci This, Just Got A Model Chick
Just Got A Stripper Chick, Man Thats A Prerequisite
Cute Chick Livin Good,, Down Her In Holloywood
Upcoming Actress, But She Gotta Flat Chestnow They Give Her Access
You See,Now That Just Happened

Uhuh, Uhuhuh, This Is Not The Night To Be Disrespectin Me, Im Lookin At You Right Now Girl I Already Know You Aint Go No... O Hold On I Think Im Doing To Much Talkin, U Know What, Brang My Needle, Brang My Needle!! Yea Brang My Needle. Now Look Man, I 'ont Know, Im Looking At This Girl Right Now, She Aint Bring None Of My Money, Im Lookin At These Big Ass Breast In My Face, U Know What... Dundundun (Nine Times) Throw Some D's On This Bitch, Pop A Bitch Wit A Needle, Bitch Let Me Pop That Chest, I 'ont Give A Fuck Bitch, Im 'bout To Pop Yo Breast, Im About To Put A Needle Right In Ya Fuckin Tit, Im 'ont Give A Fuck Bitch, Dont U Disrespect Me Bitch, Pop Pop Pop A Needle Right On Yo Fuckin Nipple, Girl You 'bout To Look Good , If Ya Aint Lookin Simple, Bout To Pop Her Titi Bitch, Hey Hey, Pop Pop Her Titi Bitch, Hey Hey Hey, Pop Pop Pop Pop Pop Her Titi Bitch, Pop Pop Pop Pop Pop Her Titi Bitch, Pop Pop Pop Pop Pop Her Titi Bitch, Hey, Throw Some Needle On Her Tit...
...Pop Her Titi Bitch, Ever Disrespect Me Again I Put A Needle Right In Ya Ass...

Anonymous said...

Some of you can be so insensitive. No matter what the reason was, the fact of the matter is, she passed. It is not important on how a person dies but how they lived. Who are you to judge? It makes no sense to pass judgement in this case. I am disturbed every time someone judges the way someone passed. She was Todays Black Woman and if half of us could live as she did we would be better off. She was an educated woman who handled her business accordingly. My prayers are with Kanye and his during this difficult time. Rest in Peace Dr. Donda West and Kanye keep your head up.
Gwen

Unknown said...

This is so very disturbing, this is the 2nd shocking death I've heard of over the weekend. People please live like today is your last!

Anonymous said...

I don't see anyone passing judgement but you.

Anonymous said...

Yes it is important HOW she died if she died behind something that we as black women need to take notice about,,Why let her death be in Vain?
DEath is just as important as Life,,this woman died before her time which means her life cycle did not complete,,she'll be back again

Anonymous said...

So with you Anon 1:47

1:43 that was too cold. Have a damn heart.

Why are we trying to find someone to blame? This shit is sad as hell and it was unexpected. Had she been in an automobile accident, would someone bring up a song about that too? People die every day and sometimes it's from a freak accident. I am not a Kanye stan, but his music was cool and you could tell this brotha loved his mama. Let's pump the brakes on the jokes for a second and put ourselves in his position. Just put this young man and his family up in your prayers.

2:03- When God says it's your time, it's your time. Regardless of how old you are, where you're at or what you're doing.

Anonymous said...

^^^ I dont get that comment,,its about HOW she died,,,if it was from plastic surgery ,,with more and more black women buying into it,,,we need to know so we can see for sure its a dangerous thing to do and perhaps change one persons mind from going into that 90210 office today,,and save a life!

Anonymous said...

White people been doing the "Barbie and Ken" thing for years...tucking this, lifting that, blowing up this, deflating that...Society is causing women to want to look good...With Dr. West being in the spotlight so much with her son, I wouldn't blame her for wanting a supposedly minor cosmetic surgery, even though she didn't look bad...
Nowadays, you can't gain a pound without somebody saying..."Did you gain weight?".

I am sorry for the family's loss..I hope everybody can stay strong to get through it...Very sad...

Anonymous said...

anon 11:19am....I thought this was about Kanye's mom...not Founders Day for a sorority...

Anonymous said...

anonymous 11:19, i never got a chance to read the title of the story before posting my comment about our founders day. after reading it i did post my condolences. i could not change it, it was already posted.
and...

Anonymous said...

i feel so bad for kanye, i couldn't imagine losoing my mother the way he did. I'm not sure why she felt at 58 that she needed surgery, but for whatever reason this is just irreplaceble.

Anonymous said...

So 2:11 are you going to rally for folks to stop driving--because more people die in car accidents than going under the knife?

I hear what you're saying, but it can be applied to many different facets of our society, not just plastic surgery.

I'm not a cheerleader for "unneccesary" cosmetic surgery either. But in this case, you're just not seeing the forest for the trees here. This is not about how plastic surgery killed Donda West. This is more about the realization of how you can lose someone you love *snaps fingers* just like that! Like I said, she could've been in a car accident or something and it would've been the same thing. People lose their loved ones everyday. On Tom Joyner this morning, they were talking about how this has been a bad year for folks losing moms. Tom lost his own father a couple of weeks ago. Myra J's mother died Saturday as well. Fred Hammond's mother died last week and so on. Someone in the world's mama is dying at this very moment. When a celebrity goes through a tragedy like this, it really hits home. So no matter what or how she lost her life, it hits home that celebs have their turmoiled times too!

I guess I'm just amped up because I am very close to my mother. I've experienced the loss of three "mother like" figures in my life in the last few years and I was a total mess. There are no words to describe how I would feel if this was me. I'm just saying, look beyond the tree on this one.

Anonymous said...

true dat, but the difference is taking that risk by choice, most of us hafta or need to drive, most dont need plastic surgery unless u were ina car wreck or sumtin,,,hhhmmm, tighter tummy, smaller breast, nu nose vs possibility of death,,not worth it, dont do it

Anonymous said...

I just hope Kanye doesn’t blame himself for what happen...remember it was his money that she used, and she was apart of the group of industry moms etc P. Diddy's mom. We all see how far P Diddy's mom is going with plastic surgery, wigs and diamonds

Anonymous said...

Wow that is so sad. Espicially the way she died. But she is at a better place now. And some of you have to realize that death is part of life. Death is just another transition into another life.

Anonymous said...

I hear it was a tummy tuck and breast job....still sad either way.....

Anonymous said...

That is so sad, and my heart goes out to Kanye. If I'm not mistaken, James Brown's wife died in the mid-90s in a similar way.

God be with Kanye and his family.

Anonymous said...

This women was a true nubian Queen. I wish she had more time to teach the women how to be a women like her. Damn shame. Bitches of today, have no morals, class, ethics, nothing. Dr. Kanye was an exception, though back in the day it was not uncommon to have women of her caliber on every block. Rest in peace, Dr. Kanye.

Anonymous said...

@4:14pm,,,Since the title of this is about her death BY plastic surgery,,Right on point!

Anonymous said...

Wow thats class, "Bitches of today..." Anyway, RIP Ms. West. Whatever the circumstances that is the saddest thing that a person can go through. I pray for him to have peace.

Jonne Austin said...

Ladies just love yourselves and put in work at the gym. This sh*t aint worth it.

Anonymous said...

R.I.P Dr.West, without you there is no Kanye, and for that alone I Thank You for his music. Now what really breaks my heart is that even this beautiful, intelligent, graceful black woman....so smart and educated felt the need to go and get work done, even she felt the pressure in society to look a certain way, what a messed up message!! She was beautiful for 58 years!! Hopefully this womans death is not in vain and we realize we are perfect the way we are

Anonymous said...

Kanye,
I was LITERALLY just listening to your album. "LATE REGISTRATION" on Sunday, marveling at your genius, your articulation, at the wonderful job that your Mother did raising such a talented man when I got in my car I heard the news and I was devastated for you. My heart goes out to you dear. As a young woman of 18 yrs, I lost my father suddenly from a car crash, I thought I would never get over it. I was 3000 miles away from NY where he was and hadnt seen him in 1 year, though we talked on the phone 2x a week. I didnt think I could survive the world without him there to love and protect me. Then I realized that he'd ALWAYS be with me, in my smile, my mannerisms, the things he taught me, like how to be strong. And I had a responsibility to him, to show my love by continuing to be the person he raised me to be.
Be strong young brother, Donda will be with you always, watching you from above.

Anonymous said...

I have so much sympathy for Kayne. He truly loved his momma.

Anonymous said...

@ 8:16 AGREE.

Anonymous said...

Kanye West is part of a culture that tells women they are not good enough unless they look a certain way. This mindset indirectly killed his mom. She tried to alter her body to conform to these standards.

Nelly's disrespectful lyrics and treatment of women helped to indirectly kill his sister because spellman sisters protested his ability to organize bone marrow donor event due to his mysogonistic lyrics and behavior.

Black men your selfish and ignorant ways continue to kill Black women. Your mothers, sisters, wives, daughters are WOMEN and they are affected by your behavior.

RIP Donda West

Anonymous said...

Kanye is gonna put his momma away in style. You and your fam are in my prayers!

Anonymous said...

@Anonymous 10:45

Black men do not control any media outlets including music distributors, TV stations and movie studios. If you were sincere you would take your hate to those who do, but it seems you are just venting on daddy issues. Or perhaps you might want to personalize the "selfish and ignorant" lyrics of the deceased's son and tell us exactly who these anonymous "black men" are.

Anonymous said...

@6:12

It doesn't matter who controls it anymore. The fact of the matter is that Black men are excellent at perpetuating that sexist culture in our communities, throughout their music, films, videos, literature, etc.

They have not been courageous enough to say to the masses we love and support our women the way they are and we will not conform to someone else's standard of beauty or mistreatment of the female body. But anything for the all mighty dollar, right?

Anonymous said...

DAMMIT!!! FOR YOU IDIOTS WHO MISSED THE POINT PLASTIC SURGERY UNLESS RE-CONSTRUCTIVE IS EXCESSIVE AND UN-NECCESSARY!!

NOBODY IS JUDGING MS.WEST (RIP)! CONDOLENSES TO KANYE! KEEP YA HEAD TO THE SKY AND IT WILL GET EASIER...I BEEN THERE! MY MOTHER IS GONE PHYSICALLY BUT SPIRITUALLY SHE LIVES IN ME! BY MY WAYS, MY THOUGHTS, AND MEMORIES!

BLACK WOMEN WE ARE BETTER THAN THIS! LEAVE THIS SHIT FOR THE INSECURE & WHITE CHICS AND STAY YOUR BUTTS OUT THE O.R.!

Anonymous said...

2anon 10:20am
I AGREE and that's a great comment about this tragedy ;-)

Anonymous said...

god bless u luv...Kanye take care...

Anonymous said...

6:25 are you patting yourself on the back at 4:14? You are mad obvious ,,, ;p

Anonymous said...

Huge lesson in humility for this family.It is sad but the truth hurts and can sometimes be deadly.I guess she was about to change her image and be a "fly" Hollywood mom.Writing a book about raising Kanye.Like she is the only mother in the world..uuh.,he ain't that special.Educated and vain.
I wonder if he will have that swagger on his next album?
My condolences..

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