We had been hesitant to report on this until it had been officially confirmed. And now it has.

Sadly, Kanye Wests mother, Donda West, passed away Saturday in Los Angeles, the rappers publicist said late Sunday.

We had heard a rumor that Donda died while having plastic surgery, but that is just a rumor at this point.

Wests publicist did not reveal a cause of death.

Donda West recently released a book about her son called Raising Kanye: Life Lessons From The Mother Of A Hip-Hop Superstar.

A former English professor, Donda was very close to Kanye, most recently working as his manager and for his companies.

So sad.

Our condolences to Kanye and the West family.