Kanye West's concert breakdown

Nov 19, 2007, 11:30 GMT

Donda West (R), mother of US Hip-hop recording star Kanye West (L) at a charity benefit for the Kanye West Foundation in Chicago, Illinois, USA. According to Donda West\'s publicist Patricia Green, Donda West, 58, died 10 November 2007 in a Los Angeles, California, USA hospital from complications from a cosmetic surgical procedure, 12 November 2007. EPA/KAMIL KRZACZYNSKI

Kanye West broke down in tears at his first concert since the death of his mother.

The hip-hop star - who took to the stage in Paris, France, on Saturday night (17.11.07) - paid tribute to Donda as he introduced the song 'Hey Mama', saying, "this song is for my mother."

However, Kanye couldn't continue as he began to sob on stage.

One audience member said: "He just cracked. He was at the end of his concert and had just started to dedicate the song and then he just lost it completely."

French journalist Meddy Magloire, who was at the show, added: "He said the word, 'Mother' and just couldn't go any further. A back-up singer, the DJ and a guitar player came over to console him. It looked like he might collapse. He just couldn't continue. He just stood there in a spotlight, crying while the band continued playing."

After a few moments of silence, the 5,000-strong audience started clapping and the band restarted the song, but Kanye left the stage.

He returned 15 minutes to conclude the concert with a rousing performance of 'Stronger'.

Kanye's mother, Donda, passed away on November 10 following complications resulting from cosmetic surgery.

Shortly after her death, Kanye thanked his fans for their support.

In a statement, he said: "Kanye West 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."

(C) BANG Media International