🥹❤️ WELCOME HOME, YE! CHICAGO HONORS DR. DONDA WEST WITH HER OWN STREET

CHICAGO — Now THIS is a Chicago story worth celebrating.

Ye returned home to Chicago as the city honored the woman who helped shape the man the world would eventually know as Kanye West.

On September 22, “Dr. Donda West Way” was dedicated in Chicago's South Shore neighborhood, honoring Ye's late mother, Dr. Donda West, near the community where mother and son once called home. Ye attended the ceremony and helped unveil the honorary street sign.

And from all of us at 730 BOOM Radio, congratulations to Ye and the entire West family. ❤️

🎓 BEFORE THERE WAS KANYE WEST, THERE WAS DR. DONDA WEST

For people who only know Donda West because Kanye named albums and projects after her, understand something:

Dr. Donda West had her OWN legacy.

She was an educator, scholar and longtime professor who spent more than two decades at Chicago State University, where she chaired the English Department. She was also instrumental in establishing the university's Gwendolyn Brooks Center for Black Literature and Creative Writing.

So seeing her name permanently connected to a Chicago street carries a meaning much bigger than celebrity.

Before the Grammys.

Before the stadiums.

Before the fashion.

Before millions of people knew her son's name.

There was a mother in Chicago pouring education, confidence and possibility into her child.

And look what came out of that house.

🏡 YE CAME BACK HOME

The dedication also became something of a Chicago reunion.

People connected to Ye's early years, including Rhymefest, GLC, Don C and Really Doe, joined family members, friends, community members and others celebrating Dr. West's legacy. Ye later returned with childhood friends to the South Shore home where some of his earliest musical dreams took shape.

Whatever anybody thinks about Kanye West today, this moment wasn't about another controversy.

This was about his mama.

And Lady Red ain't touching that with a joke.

Because losing your mother is one thing.

Watching your hometown put her name on the street where your story began?

That's different. ❤️

💥 730 BOOM RADIO CONGRATULATES YE & THE WEST FAMILY

Chicago has produced plenty of famous names, but the people who helped raise, teach and nurture those names deserve their flowers too.

Today, those flowers belong to Dr. Donda West.

Congratulations to Ye, the West family and everyone who loved Dr. West on this beautiful recognition of her life and contribution to education.

And welcome home, Ye.

You can travel the entire world, sell millions of records and stand on the biggest stages imaginable...

but Chicago is still Chicago.

And now, somewhere on the South Side, there's a street sign carrying Mama's name. 🥹❤️

DR. DONDA WEST WAY.

That's beautiful.

730 BOOM RADIOCHICAGO IS HOME. THE WORLD IS WELCOME.IT HITS DIFFERENT. EVERY TIME. BOOM! 💥