The Story Behind the Song – Kanye’s Through the Wire
Kanye West is at an exciting time in his life. Kim Kardashian is having his baby and his highly anticipated, new album “Yeezus” drops June 18th. It is hard to remember a time when Kanye West wasn’t an A- list rapper, but Kanye wasn’t always the famous celebrity his is today. Before he was a huge rapper, he was an accomplished but lesser known producer. He produced some very successful hits, including much of Jay-Z’s album “The Blueprint” but he wasn’t a household name. Kanye wanted more, he once bragged he was going to be more famous than Michael Jackson.
Back in 2002, Kanye was still trying to prove himself as a rapper. Then Kanye recorded a song that would change everything. This song would propel him forward, earn him a Grammy nomination and mark the start of his path to rapper stardom. Craziest part of the story, Kanye recorded the song with his jaw wired shut. He titled the song “Through the Wire” and it detailed what he was going through at the time.
Kanye was in a near fatal accident driving home from the studio is the middle of the night. He made it through the crash, happy to be alive, but in tremendous pain. He said “The first two or three days were like some of the worst pains in my life.” Kanye had a lot of healing to do after the accident and the surgeries he went through to repair the damage. He was hospitalized for two weeks.
Instead of relaxing at home Kanye went and recorded “Through the Wire” soon after he got out of the hospital. Listening to the recording, you can hear some results of his injuries though he sounds remarkable considering the circumstances.
The song samples Chaka Khan’s “Through the Fire”. Though the song’s overall message is of perseverance through difficult times, it is not depressing or very serious, as you might imagine. It is actually lighthearted and funny. He jokes about what he has to eat saying “I drink a boost for breakfast, and ensure for desert, somebody ordered pancakes I just sip the sizzurp.” He also jokes about complaining to the doctor about getting onto a plane with a metal plate in his chin saying “I said dawg don’t you realize I’ll never make it on the plane now, it’s bad enough I got all this jewelry on, can’t be serious man.”
The song and the music video were huge successes and as they say “the rest is history.” Kanye has come a long way since “Through the Wire” and has certainly made his mark as a rapper. You can download Kanye’s song “Through the Wire” using iMesh and reminisce with us about the beginning of Kanye West – The Superstar Rapper.
About Nadine Segal
I am a writer and editor from New York with a passion for music. I write predominately about music, musical artists and the issues they face.