I must got a angel/ Cuz look like death missed his ass/ Unbreakable/ What you thought they call me Mr. Glass/ I look back on my life like the ghost of Christmas past/ Toys R Us where I used to spend that Christmas cash/ And I still won t grow up/ I m a grown ass kid/ So I should be like other stupid shit that I did/ But I m a champion/ So I turned tragedy to triumph/Make music that’s fire/ Spit my soul through the wires. -Kanye West, “Through The Wire”
It was a normal day in October of 2002 when Kanye West met Death…While driving back to his hotel late one night on a dark LA roadway he was involved in a near fatal car accident in which he sustained injuries that left his jaw fractured in three places.
Luckily, Death’s hand passed him over and he went on to sign with Roc-a-Fella and continue his dream of taking Hip Hop to the next level with his much anticipated album “College Dropout”.
“I have flashbacks of what happened everyday,” Kanye confesses.” And anytime I hear about any accident my heart sinks and I just thank God that I’m still here. That steering wheel could have been two inches further out, and that would have been it. I found out how short life is and how blessed I really am.”
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Kanye used the accident as inspiration for one of the most creative statements rap music has ever seen. With his jaw still literally wired shut, West recorded “Through the Wire”, a pointed and personal account of the events that resonates with uncanny wit and raw emotion.
Very simply, the song marks the emergence of one of 21st century Hip Hop’s new voices. Rap music’s Golden Age has seen several artists play the dual roles of MC and trackmaster. But, if many have gained fame and fortune for their double duties…only a few have had an impact on the direction of the music overall. Kanye West is one of those few.
With the highly anticipated debut of “College Dropout”, West not only produces, writes and performs his own music and lyrics, but presents himself as a well-rounded artist with a purpose and musical vision all his own…not just some thug who can spit lyrics and adjust the volume on the board.
West is a confident guy…supremely fuckin’ confident…the professionals would call it Narcissism with grandiose tendencies…that’s if you want to be an asshole about it. He’s been quoted as saying things like,
