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Kanye West with His Parents Donda West and Ray West | Source: Twitter/ Getty Images

After several years, hip-hop artist Kanye West realized that his father, Ray West, is his best friend. However, there was a time when Ray didn't embrace fatherhood.

His parents, Ray and Donda West divorced when he was three. Kanye moved with his mother to Chicago but would spend summers with his father in Washington, DC. Brenda Bentley, who started dating Ray after his divorce, says Kanye was a curious kid who asked many questions.

Ray, who was born in 1949, was a photojournalist and once worked with former U.S President Ronald Reagan. He also worked with the late renowned poet Maya Angelou. Ray, who's currently living in the Dominican Republic, has a charity organization known as the Good Water foundation.

Kanye West poses before Christian Dior 2015-2016 fall/winter ready-to-wear collection fashion show on March 6, 2015, in Paris | Source: Getty Images

Who Is Ray West, and Why He Once Moved into a Homeless Shelter

In 2013, during an interview with BBC, Kanye disclosed that his dad once lived in a homeless shelter because he wanted to help ex-drug addicts, victims of corruption and prostitution. Ray raises finances for his foundation by selling purified water and using the profits to fund projects.

In his song "Father Stretch My Hands," Kanye West talks about the relationship he had with his dad. He states that they were never on good terms.

Kanye West's dad became a famous journalist and was once a member of the Black Panther Party back in the 1960s and 70s before giving up his media career for charity work. In 2018, Ray was diagnosed with prostate cancer and traveled back to the U.S for treatment.

Kanye West at the Golden State Warriors vs. Boston Celtics game March 16, 2022 | Source: Getty Images

Kanye was devastated by his father's cancer diagnosis, which came ten years after Donda's death. During that time, Ray attended recording sessions for his son's album "Ye." After fighting cancer, his father insisted on returning to the Dominican Republic.

Brenda, 66, who was engaged twice to Ray, spoke about his life on the Caribbean island. Brenda said that despite the frequent earthquakes and high crime in the Dominican Republic, Ray remains focused on his charity work.

Kanye West and Donda West at the launch of the Kanye West Foundation for music education in the schools on February 10, 2005 | Source: Getty Images

Donda West's Death Was a Hard Loss for Kanye as They Were Extremely Close

In an interview with Q Magazine, the rapper opened up about the untimely death of his mother, saying that he holds himself accountable for her demise:

"If I had never moved to L.A., she would be alive. I don't want to go far into it because it will bring me to tears."

Donda, who was an English professor and chair of Chicago State University's Department of English, Communications, Media, and Theatre, died in November 2007. She passed on while being admitted to a hospital in Marin del Rey after developing complications from elective surgery.

Kanye West and Donda West after the singer won awards at the 48th Annual Grammy Awards on February 8, 2006 | Source: Getty Images

Kanye Needed 42 Years to Realize His Closeness with His Dad

In 2019, Kanye tweeted about an emotional moment he had with his dad. The rapper said Ray had visited him at one of his ranches in Cody, Wyoming, and they had a deep conversation. Ray talked about his love for fishing and how he used to travel to Wyoming during summertime.

In an interview, Kanye explained how his father occasionally struggled to make ends meet. Speaking to Complex Magazine, the rapper recalls how his dad was a salesman in a vacuum cleaner company.

In his song "Father Stretch My Hands," Kanye West talks about his relationship with his dad. He states that they were never on good terms. However, their bond grew during his father's illness; the rapper said it took him 42 years to realize his dad was his best friend.

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