Surprising Facts You Didn't Know About Kanye's Parents

Music mogul Kanye West is now a very established public figure. Even before he was tied to the Kardashians, he had a history working in both music and in reality TV.

Before he rose to fame, Kanye was supported by a couple of people in particular: his parents. He was especially close with his mother, Donda, and fans may be interested in these facts about each of his parents' backgrounds.

Kanye's Mother Was An Academic

It won't come as a surprise to Kanye fans that both of his parents were incredibly intelligent. His mother Donda was actually an English professor at Clark Atlanta University and would also go on to be the Chair of the English Department at Chicago State University. Once Kanye's career picked up, however, she would retire from teaching in order to serve as her son's manager.

In an interview with MTV, Kanye once explained that he thought of Donda as his "best friend," adding how instrumental she had been in supporting him throughout his music career:

I adore her. I could not imagine having a better friend than her. My mother supported me and drove me to the studio so I could work on music.

Kanye's Father Was A Political Activist

Kanye's father was a man named Ray West who also boasted a fascinating career. Ray was both a professional photographer and a former Black Panther. His experience with one tied into the other, as he would go on to work as a photojournalist for the Atlanta Constitution-Journal, photographing several prominent public figures and politicians.

Though Kanye was primarily raised by his mother, he usually spent the summers with his father. Unfortunately for the artist, Donda passed away in 2007 as a result of a liposuction surgery gone wrong. Her death came as a shock to Kanye, who explained that he was devastated by the news at the time.

In the wake of her passing, however, it seems that Kanye was able to grow even closer to Ray, and his father would even go on to help him shoot the video for his song "Follow God." Kanye opened up about how their dynamic had shifted:

It took me 42 years to discover that my dad was my greatest friend.

Despite losing his mother, Kanye still has his father as well as the four children he shares with Kim Kardashian.