Donda West, mother of Kanye West, died Saturday, a spokesman for the rapper tells Usmagazine.com.

She was 58.

A rep tells BBC News that she passed away in L.A. from “complications from a cosmetic surgical procedure.”

No more details were given.

“The family respectfully asks for privacy during this time of grief,” a rep tells Us.

Donda — a former chairwoman of Chicago State University’s English department who raised the rapper, 30, by herself since he was 3 — was the inspiration for his track “Hey Mama” on his 2005 album Late Registration.

He wrote: “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.”

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Kanye West has revealed that he worries people might think he’s gay because of his sensitive streak.

The rap star – who’s engaged to Alexis Phifer – frets about the image he projects.

‘I’ve always had an issue with masculinity,’ he admits.

‘I’m like, “I hope this person isn’t looking at me like I’m a fag.”’

But now Kanye says he’s accepted who he is – and even thinks his short comings have helped him get where he is today.

‘What if your drawbacks ended up being your superpower? I do have feminine ways,’ he tells GQ magazine. ‘Now I’m 30 I’ve accepted that. I’ve realised everything I’m not made me everything I am.’

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Earlier this month, rap superstar Kanye West lashed out over Britney’s Spears’ opening slot at the 2007 MTV Video Music Awards.
“Maybe my money’s not right, maybe my skin’s not right,” he stated after Spears opened the show.

Is he a hot head? Yes. Is he a brilliant artist? Yes. Is he someone you should get to know better? Absolutely.

“I think that I have a powerful voice and I might have misused it on that night,” the chart-topper told Access. “I think I said a lot of things that were true but maybe it wasn’t my place to particularly call those things out.”

The ’07 VMA’s wasn’t the first time Kanye spoke out. During the Hurricane Katrina telethon he said “President Bush doesn’t care about black people.”

Losing Best New Artist at the 2004 prompted another outburst by Kanye.
“I felt like I was definitely robbed and I refuse to give any bullsh** a** answer,” he said at the time.

And most recently, he told a New York radio DJ that the VMA’s “exploited Britney in helping to end her career.”

“Do you think MTV exploited Spears,” Access Hollywood’s Shaun Robinson asked Kanye.

“I don’t really care, honesty. That is my answer, I don’t care,” he replied. “I got problems of my own, you know what I’m saying? I got my own stuff to deal with.”

Kanye’s passionate comments don’t seem to be affecting album sales. “Graduation” debuted at number 1. In two weeks it has sold over 1 million copies.

“Do they expect you to speak your mind? Do they expect you to be outspoken and controversial?” Shaun asked.

“Well, I’m not even trying to be controversial. I’m not trying to be something that I’m not. I was always like the kid that got sent to the office for saying ‘Hey, the art teacher sucks!,” he said.

“Who did you say that to?” Shaun asked.

“To the art teacher. Then you know it was just kind of the MTV thing, just as a little kid. I think I have a little bit of a baby Tourette’s type thing happening. This is like no disrespect to people who have Tourette’s because I don’t want to be politically incorrect like I always am,” he answered.

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At Us Weekly’s Hot Hollywood bash in L.A. September 26, the rapper, 30, who railed against MTV at the September 9 VMAs when he lost all five awards for which he was nominated, still held a grudge.

Us Reporters were stationed next to the MTV and VH1 camera crews on the red carpet, and when MTV attempted to film Kayne’s interview with Us, the rapper swatted away the MTV cameras, telling the cameraman and producer, “I have nothing against you, just your bosses.”

The producer protested, “I have nothing to do with that man,” but Kanye kept his hand over the lens during his entire interview with Us.

“Good Life”

He’s an arrogant little you-know-what, but I like his songs. What did you think?

KANYE WEST is winning the battle of the rap albums against 50 CENT in the US, early figures show.

Perhaps tempted by 50 Cent’s threat to stop releasing solo material if Kanye beats him in sales, album-buyers have been turning to Kanye’s GRADUATION rather than his rival’s CURTIS over the last two days.

Figures suggest Kanye’s album could shift some 700,000 copies in the first week, outstripping 50 Cent’s third album, which was released on the same day.

Meanwhile, the outspoken rapper has again slammed BRITNEY SPEARS’ comeback performance at the MTV awards this week, after whinging that he should have been allowed to open the show instead.

He told US radio show Sirius Satellite Radio’s Morning Mash Up: “Man, they were trying to get ratings. They knew she wasn’t ready and they exploited her.”

He added: “They exploited her, they played me and I really don’t mess with MTV.”

Britney’s attempt at performing her new single GIMME MORE was universally panned as “embarrassing” and “zombie like” by critics.

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Wow, he doesn’t really hold anything back – does he? Man, he’s an ass!

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Thanks to The Insider for the clip!