Kanye West isn't himself these days ...

The rapper was somber Monday night as the family went to see The Shack - a film about loss and redemption. Then last night, we spotted him at his favorite Santa Monica restaurant, Bandera, where he appeared distant and disconnected. It's understandable -- his cousin Ricky's son Avery passed away in his sleep, just after his first birthday. Ricky works at Kanye's record label GOOD Music, so the two are family, co-workers and pals.

It's a hard hit when you see someone lose their child who's almost the same age as your own. Little Saint is a year old as well. It hurts ...