(Radio.com) Nine years have passed since Kanye West's mother, Donda West, passed away from complications during an elective surgery, and a shadow of grief has hung over much of his work since then.

In November, Kanye wore a T-shirt airbrushed with her face to his Yeezy Season 3 fashion debut and he has dedicated various albums, singles and creative efforts to her memory.

On her birthday, West tweeted a heartbreaking message about his daughter North, who never met her paternal grandmother. "NORI ASKED IF THE AIRPLANE COULD TAKE HER TO HEAVEN TO SEE YOU FOR YOUR BIRTHDAY, I LOVE YOU MOM." Read more here.