It's been an emotional couple of months for him, with his mother passing away late last year. And now Kanye West has broken off his engagement to Alexis Phifer after a relationship of ups and downs.

A source close to the couple told press, "Kanye is possessed by the tour and everything going on and just couldn't keep it going. They are still friends and have broken up and gotten back together before, so it could work out."

Last year, the "Gold Digger" rapper told press that he was planning on tying the knot with Phifer in a simple ceremony, unlike most of his hip-hop peers. "I'm just going to go and get married. I'm not going to make a big deal out of it."

[gg]