Kanye West is planning to fulfil his mother's last wish, and marry his fiancee Alexis Phifer by the end of the year.

The rapper has decided not to stall his marriage plans in the wake of his mother Donda's tragic death earlier this month - because he knew she wanted him to settle down.

A friend of the family tells the National Enquirer, "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."

"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 married."

"Before her untimely death, Donda went public with her feelings for her daughter-in-law-to-be, calling Phifer "a very outstanding young woman," adding, "I can't think of one negative thing I would say about her - even in private."

West's mother died earlier this month after undergoing a tummy tuck and breast reduction in Los Angeles.