Preliminary information indicated she died from “complications of surgery,” Lt. Fred Corral told The Associated Press. An autopsy was expected to be conducted by Wednesday, Corral said.

West had approached a plastic surgeon months ago about a procedure, but he declined to perform it because of a pre-existing medical condition and he never heard back from her, the surgeon’s publicist said Monday. [READ MORE]

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.

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.

Labels: Kanye West