Before Kanye West was a household name, he was a producer fighting for respect as an MC. On , his life and career nearly ended in a near-fatal head-on car collision . Driving home from a late-night session, West crashed, leaving his jaw shattered in three places and wired shut for reconstructive surgery .
Instead of waiting for a full recovery, West used his injury as a literal instrument. Here is why "Through the Wire" remains one of the most influential debut singles in hip-hop history. The Recording: Spitting Through Metal Kanye West Through The Wire Mp3
The track is built on a heavily sped-up sample of Chaka Khan’s 1985 hit "Through the Fire" . This "chipmunk soul" production style became West's early signature, though it wasn't without controversy: Before Kanye West was a household name, he
Just two weeks after the accident, while still in intense pain and barely able to speak , Kanye entered the studio to record. The song’s title is a direct reference to the surgical wires holding his jaw together as he rapped. This gave the track an authentic, muffled grit that proved his dedication to the craft. The Sample: Chaka Khan and "Chipmunk Soul" Instead of waiting for a full recovery, West
