Jawn Murray of AOL Black Voices says that Kanye West and longtime girlfriend/fiancé Alexis Phifer have broken up. Murray claims Kanye dumped Alexis and didn’t give any specific reasons – just the good old, “It’s not going to work out.” The pair have been dating since 2002, though the broke up for a while in 2004. Murray announced the news during his segment on the nationally syndicated ‘Tom Joyner Morning Show’ on Friday morning.

Sources close to the hip-hop star tell me that it was West who ended the engagement after revealing to Phifer: “I just don’t think it is going to work out anymore.” The 30-year-old entertainer even asked for his ring back!

The often-controversial rapper/producer got engaged to Phifer while overseas in the fall of 2006. The two met when Phifer worked as the assistant to West’s fulltime wardrobe stylist. A graduate from the Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising (FIDM) in California, Phifer is working on a clothing line and has already designed some dresses that have been worn by artists like Lil’ Mo. Sources close to the couple claim she was also helping West develop his forthcoming Pastelle clothing line.

[From AOL Black Voices]

That’s pretty damn low to ask for the ring back. Especially if Kanye broke up with Alexis and not the other way around. And considering he made $17 million in 2005 alone, it seems like he could probably afford to leave her with something shiny to remember him by. Kanye’s people have of course not responded, and will probably give the standard “no comment,” if they ever do.

West has certainly had a tough year since his mother Donda passed away last fall. He’s recently started touring again, and has earned a few scathing reviews – mostly for the massive display of ego. Certainly not the first time that criticism has been leveled against Kanye.

Pop superstar Kanye West took over KeyArena on Wednesday night in what was essentially a one-man show. With his backing band tucked away mostly out of sight in a makeshift orchestra pit and no backup dancers, no guest rappers, no preening entourage, it was just Kanye Kanye Kanye all night long.

The man is known for his ego — and in the narcissistic echo chambers of hip-hop, that’s really saying something — and Wednesday night the Kanye self got wide berth. He tried by sheer force of his own charisma to fill up KeyArena, and while the effort was impressive, in the end it was a little like watching Kobe Bryant pour in 64 points just so the Lakers could lose by two.

[From the Seattle Post-Intelligencer]

I guess the whole notion of him toning down his ego and being more humble and appreciative of life didn’t last long. Kanye seems like he could be a pretty difficult guy to be married to. The relationship would be like a threesome: Kanye, Kanye’s ego, and a woman. He’s a talented artist, but something tells me that in the long run, Alexis might see this as a blessing in disguise.

Header of Kanye and fiancée Alexis Phifer at Paris Fashion Week on February 29th. Images thanks to PR Photos.

Kanye West, 30, plans to marry his fiance Alexis Phifer, 31, after the holidays. The self-important rapper faced the devastating loss of his mother, Dr. Donda West, 58, last month. Dr. West passed after complications from plastic surgery that have yet to be determined. Her plastic surgeon was recommended to her by Oprah but was the subject of multiple malpractice lawsuits and has acted less than innocent following her death. Kanye is doing his best to continue working and moving forward with his life, and plans to make it official with Alexis soon. He has realized how fleeting life is, and knows that his mother would have approved:

Kanye West has a heart-rending final tribute planned for his late mother - he intends to marry longtime fiancee Alexis Phifer right after the holidays.

“His mother’s sudden death brought into focus just how short life really is. Kanye doesn’t want to wait any longer to make Alexis his wife,” a family friend told The Enquirer.

“He believes that this is what his mom would want him to do…”

“Kanye knew how much his mother loved Alexis and how she was looking forward to seeing them get married,” continued the source.

[From The National Enquirer, print edition, December 10, 2007]

The Enquirer reports that Kanye and Alexis first met in 2002 and that they “got back together in 2004,” implying that they separated for a while or weren’t serious at first. They have been engaged since August of 2006, so it sounds like it’s time for them to marry.

Do you think Kanye will go for a big ostentatious wedding or a quiet affair with friends and family? Initial impressions point to an over-the-top ceremony and reception. When you consider how modern and understated Kanye’s house is, which Bazaar says has a lot to do with fashion designer Phifer’s influence, they will probably have a luxurious but tasteful wedding. And it’s doubtful that Oprah will be invited.

Alexis has been married once before and has an 11 year-old son with football player Roman Phifer.

Update: Thanks to the commentors for pointing out that Oprah did not recommend Dr. Jan Adams to Kanye’s mother, he was just featured on Oprah’s show in a segment on plastic surgery.

Kanye and Alexis are shown at the MTV Video Music Awards on 9/9/07, and at Rolling Stone’s 40th Anniversary on 9/8/07, thanks to PRPhotos.