BEIJING, Nov. 13 (Xinhuanet) -- Donda West, mother of
U.S. rap star Kanye West, died Saturday evening in Los Angeles due to possible
complications from cosmetic surgery, media reports said Tuesday. She was 58.
Island Def Jam, a representative of her son's record
label, confirmed the sudden death of West, adding that "the family respectfully
asks for privacy during this time of grief."
According to the Los Angeles County Coroner's Office,
an autopsy to be performed Wednesday may make clear the cause of death, but
initial indications are that she succumbed to complications from surgery.
Earlier Monday, Patricia West, a publicist for Donda
West, said that the cause of death was complications stemming from a "cosmetic
procedure." But she later denied saying West had undergone surgery.
However, Andre Aboolian, a prominent Beverly Hills
cosmetic surgeon, said Donda West consulted him in June about a procedure.
He turned down West for surgery two week ago, saying
he needed a medical clearance before he would perform the surgery.
Donda West was a major influence on her son's
life. She raised Kanye alone after her husband, a photojournalist, left
when Kanye was three.
In 2004, she retired from her post as professor and
chair of the English Department at Chicago State University to become her son's
manager and guided her son to a Grammy-winning hip-hop career.
Earlier this year, she released a book she
co-authored called "Raising Kanye: Life Lessons From the Mother of a Hip-Hop
Superstar."
(Agencies)
