Kanye West’s Mother Passes Away at Age 58

 •  XXL Magazine  •  by XXL Staff  •  77 Comments

Photo credit: Hugh Edwards

Dr. Donda West, noted professor and mother of Kanye West, passed away at a hospital in Los Angeles on Saturday night (November 10). Patricia Green, Dr. West’s publicist, confirmed to CNN that she passed during an unspecified “cosmetic procedure.” Kanye’s close relationship with his mother was well known to the public, and he penned the song “Hey Mama,” which appeared on his 2005 LP Late Registration, in honor of her. Dr. West taught English at the university level for 31 years and served as chairwoman Chicago State University’s English Department. In 2004, she retired in order to manage Kanye’s career, taking the role of CEO of West Brands, LLC and heading his non-profit organization the Kanye West Foundation. Earlier this year, Dr.West published the book Raising Kanye: Life Lessons from the Mother of a Hip-Hop Star. Dr. West was 58.

Above: Donda West smiles proudly as her son accepts the Advocate for Social Change Award at the 2007 One Hundred Black Men Gala.

Tags:

  • http://yahoo.com vaje

    DAMN G its gone be iight my nig

  • NT

    R.I.P

  • http://--------------------------- Em’s

    Dammmmmm so sorry to hear about Moms passing but keep ya head up my nigga keep doing ya thing son…………

  • LDP

    R.I.P and may god be with you.

  • http://www.yahoo.com Streets Is Watchin

    R.I.P. Dr. West!!! Ye i feel you keep ya head up cause thats where moms is now. “Moms is heaven bound, so how she recieve anything you pour to the ground next time throw it up”

  • heAd-honcho0

    mY Condolences wEst s0rry to0 hEre dAtt mY dUDe.

    Rip:DondA wEst

  • Kenya

    i am so sorry to hear about your mom, just know that she is in a better place. losing your mom is the worst thing that can happen to us, i lost my mom in 1996 and i felt the pain you are feeling. i want you to pray and ask God for the strenght because you need his strenght. i will pray for you and your family as well. keep your head up to the sky.

  • JAYSTONE

    Donda West – you were an inspiration. you did the best thing any mom could do and that’s to let your boy follow his dreams. the work you did with the kanye west foundation was and still is inspirational.
    you spoke up where others stayed quiet – you don’t get many mom’s speaking about respect in hip hop – this vid you did for us has had an effect on so many.
    please everyone check it out at : http://www.staying-alive.org/en/blo g/other_links/donda_west
    and see how GREAT this woman was.
    kanye – our condolences and hearts are with u.

    • Chris S

      i am very sorry to hear about your mom’s passing. i can only imagine what you are going through. she must’ve been very proud of you and everything you’ve done, especially Hey Mama. best of luck to you and the rest of your family.

      oh and JAYSTONE, i was “not authorized” to view your page for some reason

  • coach

    Key your hands in God hands, he said; he would send you a comforter. Take it one day at a time.

  • Mir Swain

    R.I.P Dr.West My Roses are with You Kanye Remember her with every 16 and a hook you write Pa give our regards One Luv

  • KSMOOTH

    Whassup I just read about what happended and my prayers go out to Kanye and his family. Dr West should be proud that she raised a true outgoing individual and her spirit will live on through her son.

    R.I.P. Donda West

  • British Invasion

    damn,

    100 quid says it was a gastric bypass…

  • Trickdd

    DAM ONLY 58 SHE WAS YOUNG SHE WAS getin A PROCEDURE DAM THAT GUNNA BE HARD ON KANYE R.I.P.

  • iNfAmOuS

    Damn, b. So sorry to hear that, Kan. May she rest in peace and may God bless her soul.

  • BOOGOLOGY

    My condolences go out to you and your family. Just know that she is in a better place with God and Jesus forever, so when your time comes she’ll be there at the gates waiting on you. Kanye please use this time not only to reflect, but do whatever she wanted you to do to become the man that you are suppose to be. Remember her legacy is done as an individual because she already made her mark while she was here. Now the legacy lives thru you. So, what are you going to make out of it while your here. I myself lost my mother at a very young age (13) and now I’m 27 doing my best to work her legacy within my own. May God bless you continuously with your gift, mind, soul, and body! 1NE!

  • ME

    R.I.P

  • http://martypatrone.bebo.com PatronE

    Kayne my sincere condolences to you and your family, my mother read your book and thought it was wonderfull words of wisdom she describes! and bro our prayers are with you in ireland! as i pass da church on the way home i will be thingk of you fam your songs are powerfull and bring alot of enjoyment to the music industry, if u get some spare time come drop me msg @ martypatrone.bebo.com peace be with u bro’ may your mom R.I.P

  • Da Kid

    Man dats f’ed up dat she passed, At least she got to see her son finally live out his dream, and if you know Kanye he gon have ALOT to rap about on dis situation.

  • THE NOTORIOUS C.O R.E.Y

    my condolences to u kanye!!! I lossed my mom back in 1990! HOLD YA HEAD!!

  • lilchuck113

    Hold your head Mr.West, Your in my heart.

  • wscreepa

    Damn…Bro im sorry to hear this ….

  • RLW

    WE’RE NEVER GOING TO HEAR THE END OF THIS FROM KANYE

    • Fire

      He was very close to his mother, of course he’s going to talk about it, wouldn’t you? Besides, what’s the problem with that? Anyway, I send my condolences and support to Kanye and hope that he can get through this situation with his heart intact. Keep your head up, Kanye. It’s tough, but keep your head up. R.I.P. Donda West.

  • http://whumphreyemtec@hotmail.com S on my chest

    RIP. Nuff said.

  • http://xxlmag.com Tre Trilla

    We not promised tomorrow thats why we have to count our blessings daily… Gone R.T.S Rest Thy Soul…

  • DURTY

    RIP DR. WEST
    3 STAGES IN LIFE
    U HEADING IN AH STORM
    U’R IN AH STORM
    OR U JUST GOT OUT AH STORM
    STAY STRONG KANYE

  • 5yearslockeddown

    i kno how hard it is to loose sum1. but u kno how much he loves his mother when he made a few songs about her and even put her on 1. rip Mrs.west

  • Greg

    RIP, its gonna be a tough thanksgiving for Ye.

  • First

    everything happens for a reason, keep your head up

  • BklynBandette

    “But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.
    For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which in Jesus Christ will God bring with him.
    For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep.
    For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:
    Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.
    Wherefore comfort one another with these words.”
    1 THESSALONIANS 4:13-18

    Stay Up Kanye …

    God Bless.

  • A. Morrison

    I feel for him. I just lost my brother almost 2 weeks ago and thats hard enough for me but losing my mom would be insane. Im am truly sorry for his loss and my sympathy goes out to him.

  • rj

    im sorry to hear this… I ma keep u and ur family in my prayers. Keep u head up.

  • geico lizard

    ive been on other sites and these are some of the best comments i have seen. you wouldnt believe how rude some people on other sites are. stay strong kanye you will make it through

  • nana

    u know what??? i hated on kanye west release of graduation…just for fun!!!!!

    but dis is some shit!!!! just ope and believe in urself and overcome any obstacles in life…becos u know dat ur mum wil forever be proud of u>>>>>

  • Mr.Defrosted

    George Bush Had that set up

    http://www.myspace.com/defrostedmixtapesampler

    RiP

    Its a conspiracy

  • Freddy(Vega$)

    REST IN PARADISE.

  • http://www.myspace.com/trinibwoy718 TriniBwoy

    R.I.P Donda West!

  • Rednose pit bull

    who gives a fuck? when any of our moms die,do you think they will have her on a news article? or care that ur mom died? hell no they wont,think kanye west cares about ur mom? i mena it sucks his mom died,but thats not our moms,people die everyday,its life,trust me,i work in a cemetery

    • IP/TCP ADDRESSER

      DON’T GET 2 COCKY TALKIN SHIT ON-LINE, CUZ U CAN BE TRACK, LOCATION, TIME, ALL THAT…JUST LIKE THE LAW DO IT, SO TAKE EASE….ALSO U WILL REEP WHAT U SOW…..
      TRUST ME;}

  • niggafrommemphis

    She was a wonderful person who did wonderful things and I hope that in passing,she leaves a legacy for her son to carry.He is talented,I’m not his biggest fan.Hopefully he will mature and quit actin like a spoiled ass bitch The Lord move in mysterious ways and maybe he can be hisself and not Madonna

  • http://www.staying-alive.org julie

    http://www.staying-alive.org/en/blog/other_links/donda_west

    if it doesn’t work clicking – cut and paste it.

    Donda = Inspiration

  • http://myspace.com/loonyt706 Loony T

    R.I.P

  • Trickdd

    IT SOUND LIKE YOU GOT THE PERFECT FUCKIN HART TO WORK AT A CEMETERY. WHO GIVES A FUCK? LOOK AT ALL THE COMMENTS WE ALL GIVE A FUCK JUST BECOUSE THAT REASON YOU GUNNA LEAVE A COMMENT DISRESPECTIN KANYES MOM . MAN I WOULD LOVE 2 SLAP THE HELL OUT U . U HEARTLESS BITCH

  • Cee

    She was 58 years old. What did she need with some plastic surgery? Man, at age 58, she did not need no surgery like that.

  • http://www.xxlmag.com/?p=16183 Jay

    Rednose pit bull says:

    who gives a fuck? when any of our moms die,do you think they will have her on a news article? or care that ur mom died? hell no they wont,think kanye west cares about ur mom? i mena it sucks his mom died,but thats not our moms,people die everyday,its life,trust me,i work in a cemetery
    ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

    ur a fuckin pussy.. who cares bout u how u gonna disrespect the dead.. obviously she has a news article cuz her sons fuckin huge right now and she was big herself so shes fuckin media property so obviously shes gonna be here
    ur a faggot and i second what trickedd said i would love 2 slap u…

    hopefully u end up where u work soon ..faggot

    • http://xxlmag.com Tre Trilla

      I say we all help Red Nose Pit bull Bitch ass join her. Rest Thy Soul.. Lord please forgive the dumb. Hey since u call yourself a pitbull how bout we Mike Vick yo Bitch ass. I’ll hold the rope and someone else kick away the chair…

    • http://xxlmag.com Tre Trilla

      I say we all help Red Nose Pit bull Bitch ass join her. Rest Thy Soul.. Lord please forgive the dumb. Hey since u call yourself a pitbull how bout we Mike Vick yo Bitch ass. I’ll hold the rope and someone else kick away the chair…

    • Rednose pit bull

      i never said anything disrespectful bout her personally,just said who gives a fuck..smack me huh? haha ok big tough aol gangster ahhaah you guys make me laugh ahhahaa

  • http://profane70009@tmail.com Profeezy

    R.I.P. Dr. Donda West, i hope my mom is here to see me blow up like Kanye’s was. god bless her, she’s in a better place now, RIP

  • Pamela

    Sorry about your lost Kanye.

    Hold your head and ask GOD for strenght and you will survive.

    Love,
    Pamela

  • Silly Willy

    Requiescat In Pace !!!
    What doesn’t kill you can only make you STRONGER ! Keep ya head up, Ye!

  • Rednose pit bull

    cry me a river you little cry babys.you dont even know her,you wanna act like you really give a shit because she was famous then good for you..funny how all these people on her claim to be husslers and killers and gangsters,but yet they crying like bitchs over someone they dont know..get the fuck off ur computers and live the lives u claim too and stop crying..your gonna slap me,ahah through the computer? beleive me player,if you knew me,you wouldnt say shit to me,i am a real motherfucker and thats all ill say,im not a fake thats gonna sit on here and lie and talk to look tough,i dont give a fuck what yall think,yall fakes and we ALL know it.so talk all your shit,fact remains u still a real fake bitch when u sign off ur computer today…pussys

    • http://xxlmag.com Tre Trilla

      RedNose Bitch Bull, First off homie aint no Bitch in me or fake. Im real with this shit here Homie. U can look me up on Illinois Department of Corrections Type in J-walls Bitch see Im giving u my real info, look me up homie and tell me what u see…… Yeah U c 20years dont u, for what? A SHOOTING so as u CAN C I JUST DID 10 LONG years punk bitch in a Max facility so I dont know who u thought u was playing with or emailing but Im real with this here homie… Get at me. I dont get on here for drama u just could of kept ya comments to yaself. Now you go head and read about me…. yeah and Middle name starts with a B… We real over here. Ha If i new u I would say shit, bitch please…. BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH

  • SOUTHERNBREED

    I’m Sorry To Hear That.
    Kanye Used His Mother As His Inspiration.
    The Fucked Up Thing Is, Kanye is engaged and was about to get married,so his mom won’t be around for his wedding and if he has kids,she won’t be there for that either.
    Plus it’s almost time for Thanksgiving!
    Kanye Keep Your Head Up,Your Mom Is Watching Over You.
    Things Happen For A Reason and This Will Work Out For You.

  • sir southside zone 3

    God is with you. An when you feel like you dont have a leg to stand on… he’ll carry you. 4 real

  • Jack

    what cosmetic procedure was she having? did the fucking doctors mess it up or what cause thats so bull shit. kanye said on hey mamma i promise you I’m going back to school thats probably what he’ll do now. your no your famous when 50 + people who don’t even no your mother comment about there sadness of her passing. I didn’t no her and i feel bad about it moms dying is foul but thats the way life goes. its harsh reality

  • Hwooul

    Ill Pray For You Kanye

  • kings

    bless her and her soul RIP

  • Johnnny

    Yo, check out how this magazine talked about Kanye’s mom. Just not right.

    http://sandrarosenews.blogspot.com/2007/11/ny-magazines-insensitive-headline-re.html

    http://nymag.com/daily/intel/2007/11/kanye_wests_mom_goes_out_olivi.html

    Go call Jessica Pressler up and let her know.
    http://nymag.com/contactus/

  • I am VA

    May peace and harmony be with you Dr. West speaking for all of VA…

  • Vicious Seiger

    This is a major devastating blow for Kanye and I pray Jehovah will bless him in his time of sorrow. Anytime we lose a loved one it’s hard on us. Friends, Cousins, Uncles and Aunts but it is most personal and hard when it’s are children, wifes, husbands, fathers and mothers. Kanye and his mother were obviously close so it must be especially hard for him to lose her and never getting to say goodbye. Kanye lean on the Lord and hold on to your faith that you will see her again.

  • YungQ07

    I don’t know what I would do if I lost my Mom, but I know if she did past she would want me to keep it movin’. Kanye continue Ur success and be thankful that you got the chance to show her you appreciated everything she’s done for you. R.I.P. Dr. Donda West. Condolences to anyone who ever felt the pain of losing their Mom!

  • Rizzle

    FUCK THIS NIGGA, KANYE, ITS 50 CENT ALL DAY MOTHERFUCKERS, THIS NIGGA MAKES ALL THIS GAY SHIT, NONE OF THAT %) CENT HARDCORE SHIT, GO COP CURTIS FUCK GRADUATION

  • BossGame

    Father!Forgive them (red pit)for they know not what they do (say). Change your heart brah! Change your heart!

  • BossGame

    God bless you and your family Kanye.

  • Trickdd

    RED NOSE PIT GO TALK THAT BULLSHIT SOME WHERE ELSE BITCH . LIKE I DONT FUCKIN NO OTHER PEOPLES MOM IS DIEN AROUND THE WORLD

  • rednosepittbull

    ok tuff guy,if thats really even you that shot someone,then ur a real bitch! only a real bitch will shoot someone and not even kill them!!hahah learn to shoot if thats even u which i know it aint…real gangsters would be on the block right now protecting the hood,not on xxl..big ole aol gangster!!fakes shit ive seen in a long time…only a real worthless person fails on a murder by not even killing them!! “oh i shot someone and did 20 yrs” ahah big deal bitch,that just proves u cant shoot and ur sloppy..do us all a favor,get off ur little computer,and go outside in ur little suburb. and actually do something usefull u bitch..go ahead talk shit,thats how we all know u arnt real,i wont even say another word back or read ur stupid shit again because its all BULLSHIT..even if u were the dude u claim to be,ur still a bitch..even if u were shooting niggas,u dont scare me..but ill tell u this,real niggas dont talk about there dirt on a forum page,and real niggas dont threaten on a computer,or phone so we all know what u about tright there…period..ahahahahahahah bitch

    • http://XXLMAG.COM Tre Trilla

      1st thing first, I never said what I would do to you , i said Im not fake and that I been threw real shit bitch. Second, dude was lucky He got hit in the chest. 3rd Im glad he servived Im not proud of that shit. I just said aint no fakeness in me and that u can look me up Bitch. 4th My shit is public on the net ,I did the crime and did the time so no hiding it. Im not on that no more unless u make me, cause like 50 and Akon son, I’ll still K**L…..

  • Rednose pit bull

    and you guys are all right,i shouldnt have said what i did(when i said who gives a fuck) i just know alot of u out there dont really care,so stop pretending..but i will tell u this,anyone on here talking tough and talking about they are thugs and killers are fakes!! period!!but again i should have kept that comment to myself..as far as everything i just said to that fake ass bitch tre,i ment ever fucking word and everyone out there knows by reading how he talks that he is a fake!!!

  • http://www.myspace.com/x2pha x2pha

    Black to the core,yo brother accept my condolence,you rule and believ me she is fine in where she heading aite..keeping it real cos jessus works…GOD SHOW HIM THE WAY COS THE DEVIL IS TRYING TO BRING HIM DOWN!

  • http://www.myspace.com/x2pha x2pha

    keep it black GOD SHOW HIM THE WAY COS THE DEVIL IS TRYING TO BING HIM DOWN!

  • gefflo

    R.I.P DONDA.BE STRONG KANYE WE LOVE YOU

  • http://www.xxlmag.com Ayoola

    R.I.P mrs donda west! i know ye really looked up to you! thank you thats all i have to say for creating a superstar! keep your head up ye! we love you! coming from the UK!

    and ohh rednose pitbull i see you have apologised for what you have said but whats done is done! so a special fuck you goes out to you!

    and also rizzle you little bitch!!! if you cant pay your respects shut the fuck up, and eat a dick with aids on the top of it!

    peace kanye! we support you incredibly in the uk!

  • http://WWW.XXLMAG.COM BIGEASY

    REMEMBR THE GOOD TIMES KANYE BECAUSE IT WILL MAKE YOU FELT BETTER. I KNOW IT TOUGH RIGHT NOW BUT CONTINUED TO WRITE THE SONG I LIKE PLEASE AFTER IT IS OVER

  • PAMELA

    You know I was talking to someone about the passing of Kanye’s mom, and the person starting reciting some lyrics that Kanye ecited in one of his songs, the comment had something to do with Collegen and Comestic Surgery, the person stated that look how he put that in his lyrics and his onw mom was not happy about her looks….

    You that just shows how IGNORANT SOME BLACK people can be. The person who said this foul shit is a full growm man…..and we talk about the children in today’s SOCIETY….LOOK AT WHO SOME OF THE PARENTS ARE….YOU DIG ME!

    RIP MS.WEST

  • oneway

    Def. regrettable…however….a good lessen to all you thinking about elective cosmetic surgery…it aint worth it…recently my aunt went under the knife to get some bullshit breast enhancement and tummy tuck…a few days after the surgery she developed a blood clot and almost died…ELECTIVE SURGERY ISN’T WORTH IT. PEOPLE NEED TO SACK UP AND ACCEPT THE WAY THEY LOOK. This is a perfect example of how societal values and norms (sick warped values and norms that this country and our culture has made the status quo) pressure people into doing things they wouldn’t normally do!! If it wasn’t for Kanye’s success and fortune,,, chances are that his mother would have never have felt the pressure to “conform” in such a way…at age 58 you would think she’d be at peace with the way she looked…and she probably was until she was pushed onto the stage by her son’s success. Without her son’s success the chances that she would have been in the same situation that killed her would be slim to none! when ur in the limelight,…there’s pressure to act and look a certain way… and because in this day and age everyone is obsessed with what other people think…they end up doing things they would never do without all the attention and outside pressure. And the really sad part is that this pressure is imaginary…no one cares/cared about what kanye’s mother looked like…she would have been accepted as royalty just because of who her son is and what he’s accomplished and the fact that she was the one who raised this superstar….NOT BECAUSE OF HER APPEARANCE…. Money does strange things to people…one minute they’re normal and a month later they’re lapping up all of the extravagance that comes with the wealthy celebrity territory. Kanye for the first time might be thinking that the money from his success isn’t really a blessing but a curse and would probably trade every cent he has in his possession for his mother’s life!!!