Kanye West's mother dies
Dr. Donda West, the mother of hip-hop superstar Kanye West, who nurtured and promoted her son’s musical career from its infancy, died Saturday in a Los Angeles hospital. She was 58.
Beyond her son’s international fame, Dr. West had carved out her own niche as a well-respected educator in Chicago — long affiliated with Chicago State University where she rose to the chairmanship of the school’s English department.
(AP file)
(Courtesy)
She left the school in 2004 as her son’s musical career exploded — leading to a series of various endorsement opportunities and other marketing and licensing agreements. Dr. West became the CEO of Super Good, the parent company of Kanye West Enterprises, and moved to California two years ago. In recent months she was heading West’s foundation, which aimed to keep kids from dropping out of school.
Kanye West, who was just in Chicago last week filming a music video for his song ‘‘Homecoming,’’ had just arrived in London when he learned of his mother’s death Saturday. He immediately flew to Los Angeles to join fellow family members.
The entertainer never hid the fact that he and his mother were unusually close — both personally and professionally, telling the Sun-Times in 2005, ‘‘I never make any important decision without consulting her.’’
Usually a popular member of Kanye West’s entourage at all the major music awards shows, such as the Grammys, Dr. West most recently grabbed headlines last spring with the publication of a memoirs, Raising Kanye: Life Lessons From the Mother of a Hip-Hop Superstar, co-authored with Karen Hunter.
In the book, Dr. West focused on raising her talented son as a single mother in the African-American community — eventually becoming his manager as he gained national attention as a new musical sensation.
In the early period of West’s career, Dr. West herself was known to call local Chicago radio and television stations in order to promote her son — persistently attempting to get Kanye booked for live or taped appearances.
In recent years, Kanye West also made headlines for his comments on homosexuality, his addiction to pornography, his supposed feud with rap superstar 50 Cent and his posing as Jesus Christ with a crown of thorns on his head on a cover of Rolling Stone magazine.
Earlier this year, Dr. West told Sun-Times columnist Stella Foster, ‘‘I don’t see anything wrong with what Kanye said. And I don’t see the controversy. He is telling how he feels and he is speaking the truth as he sees it.’’
Always quick to stand behind her son, Dr. West told Foster, ‘‘I support my baby.’’
I AM SO SORRY 4 YOUR LOST! R-I-P!!!
Mz.H@zE10:31 PM CST