Kanye West makes his first public statement since the passing of his mother. About Connect Four! In short, Beyonce is a legendary Connect Four champion!

Here’s Kanye’s latest blog entry from his official website:

“When I was in Europe I would play this game for hours and hours… it helped me zone out. Everybody would get envolved… [sic] Derrick Dudley (Common’s manager) and Consequence were the best other than me… I beat Lexi… Don C beat Jay… Tony Williams beat Common… but every now and then people would speak of this legendary connect 4 champion……….. BEYONCE!!! I had 2 play her!…so last night at Jay’s new 40/40 club in Las Vegas (which is sidebar, crazy big w/ 24krt gold flooring, Black Jack tables, $500 slot machines,the biggest projection screen in the universe and the best turkey burgers I’ve ever had in my life) she beat me 9 times in a row! (and I didn’t even spaz lol) here’s a photo of the only game I won!

Happy new year everybody…”

A few more pictures below of Kanye West bouncing back…

Kanye West is on one of three separate Men of the Year covers for GQ magazine per USA Today.

The others cover stars are Bill Clinton and Daniel Craig. The issue hit newsstands Nov. 27.

Kanye doesn’t talk about his mother to the magazine, but he does discuss the possibility of marriage to his fiancee, Alexis Phifer.

“I’m just going to go and get married,” Kanye said. “I’m not going to make a big deal out of it. It’s not to prove anything to anyone — it’s for me, for stability in my life, and I’m so happy that I found someone that I really love, that challenges me, that keeps my life interesting, that’s just as crazy as I am.”

Watch the video below of Kanye in concert Saturday in Paris–he breaks down in tears while fans cheered him on. (His mom Donda passed away earlier this month.)

Kanye West recently issued a statement regarding the sudden passing of his momager, Dr. Donda West.

Donda, 58, passed away on Saturday reportedly from complications of a tummy tuck and breast reduction, which may have included a heart attack, pulmonary embolism and/or massive vomiting. Here’s the statement Kanye issued:

“Kanye West, his family and friends would like to thank everyone for the outpouring of support and kind words that have come in from across the country since the death of his mother, Dr. Donda West.

“After working in higher education for 31 years, Dr. Donda West and Kanye West co-founded the Kanye West Foundation with the mission of helping to combat the severe dropout problem in high schools across the country. The first and signature initiative of the Kanye West Foundation is Loop Dreams. Designed to capitalize on students existing interest in hip-hop, Loop Dreams challenges students to learn more about what’s behind hip-hop culture in order to help them develop skills, express themselves creatively and be empowered.

“In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made in Dr. West’s name to the Kanye West Foundation/Loop Dreams Teacher Training Institute. Those donations can be made by visiting the Foundation’s Web site, www.KanyeWestFoundation.org or by mail at Kanye West Foundation, 8560 W. Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood, CA 90069.”

Kanye West arrives hand-in-hand with long-time model fiancee Alexis Phifer to the Spring/Summer 2008 Christian Dior Fashion show during Paris Fashion Week on Monday. The couple also took in the Vivenne Westwood runway show.

Kayne has also started a blog! So far, he’s posted lots of video clips and pictures of fashion pieces he likes.

Watch Kanye perform “Stronger” and “Goodlife” on Saturday Night Live here. Watch Kanye perform “Champion,” “Everything I Am” and a bit of freestyling here. Also watch the clip below of Kanye’s SNL skit poking fun of himself for being a sore loser.

15+ pictures inside of Kanye the blogger… More Here! »

Kanye West played up his “I never win” status and competed in a rap-off against The Office star Rainn Wilson à la Don’t Forget The Lyrics with host Wayne Brady.

Kanye and Rainn rap to Kanye’s smash single “Stronger.”

Watch the video below!!!!!

50 Cent is headed for retirement!

Kanye West’s album “Graduation” is outselling 50 Cent’s “Curtis.” According to Billboard, first week scans based on early store sales reports have “Graduation” selling 575,000-700,000 copies while “Curtis” is being projected in the 500,000-600,000 range.

FIDDY, YOU’RE FIRED!

But!!!!!!!! It could get worse for 50 Cent as he may come in THIRD this week. Country artist Kenny Chesney and his Just Who I Am: Poets & Pirates album is selling in the range of 400,000-550,000 copies.

That would totally suck for Fiddy.

Watch. this.

Kanye West, whose album drops today, had a complete meltdown backstage at the 2007 Video Music Awards. The rapper goes completely haywire, hating on MTV for using Britney Spears to open up the show and losing in all five categories that he was nominated for. Kayne’s so fumed, he even canceled his appearance on TRL today, missing out on a chance to hype up his new album.

Here’s Kanye’s rant transcribed but watch/listen to the video below!!!

“**** MTV. Y’all heard what the **** I said… Five nominations. I ****in’ lost to Black Eyed Peas last year, man. I’m never coming to MTV. Ya’ll find Britney. Get Britney. Get a real ****in’ artist. Get Britney Spears. I ain’t ****in’ with this pop ****. God****. Give me a ****in’ chance. Give a black man a chance. I’m tryin’ hard. I got the ****in’ #1 record. I’m tryin’ man. I don’t even get a ****in’ chance. They don’t want a ****in’ black man in that position.”

Watch the video below for a behind-the-scenes look with Kanye West and photographer David LaChappelle for the MTV VMAs photo shoot. The Grammy-winning rapper is set to perform at Sunday’s Video Music Awards. Be sure to tune in @ 9PM ET/PT on MTV!

Kanye is up for five moon men this year including Video of the Year for “Stronger” and Male Artist of the Year. Let’s hope he wins at least one to avoid a temper tantrum!