KANYE WEST IS RUMORED TO BE DATING EX-PUSSYCAT DOLL MELODY THORNTON!

Kanye West has new arm candy just in time for Fashion Week: Former "Pussycat Doll" Melody Thornton.
The rapper and Thornton were spotted at the Marc Jacobs women's store on Mercer St. during the boutique's Fashion's Night Out festivities. After chatting up Vogue editor Anna Wintour, they took photos together and held hands leaving the boutique. Fans of West chased the musical twosome down the street, snapping pictures on their cell phones.

An in-the-know source says West, 33, and Thornton, who turns 26 on Sept. 26, have been "dating for only about two weeks" but that things are going "very well."

Apparently, however, the "Power" artist isn't ready yet to walk the red carpet with Thornton. West left her behind in New York when he jetted to Los Angeles Saturday for the MTV Video Music Awards, where he was under plenty of scrutiny because of his behavior there last year.

But West returned to the city - and his curvaceous cutie - Monday.