“Through the Wire” is a significant song in the career of Kanye West, released in 2003 as the lead single from his debut album, “The College Dropout,”. The chase lyrics hold a compelling backstory that mirrors both West’s strength and his dedication to succeed in the face of tragedy.
In October 2002, West was participating in a near-fatal car accident while operate home from a late-night recording session in Los Angeles. The casualty left him with severe damage, including a fractured jaw that had to be wired shut. In spite of his condition, West was resolute to continue run his passion for music. He recorded “Through the Wire” just two weeks after the casualty, rapping with his jaw still wired shut, which gave his vocals a disparate and raw standard.
The lyrics of “Through the Wire” are greatly personal, mirroring on West’s experience in of the accident and his subsequent rehab. He recounts the moment of the crash, his hospitalization, and his fight with pain and doubt. However, amidst the misfortune, West expresses his unwavering tenacity to overcome hurdle and achieve his dreams.
The song’s production, characterized by a soulful sample of Chaka Khan’s “Through the Fire,” akin with West’s fervent delivery, reverberate with listeners and judge alike. “Through the Wire” received extensive acclaim, authenticating West as a formidable talent in the hip-hop scene and laying the foundation for his future success.
Beyond its musical merits, “Through the Wire” stands as a exemplification to West’s strength and original in the face of misfortune. The song remains a basis of his catalog, Famous for its honesty, authenticity, and the submissive spirit it embodies.
Lyrics
Yo, Gee, they can’t stop me from rapping can they?
Can they, Hop?
I spit it through the wire, man
It’s too much stuff on my heart right now, man
I’ll gladly risk it all right now
It’s a life or death situation, man
Y’all don’t really understand how I feel right now, man
It’s your boy Kanye to the
Chi-Town, what’s going on?
Uh-huh, yeah, yeah
I drink a Boost for breakfast, an Ensure for dessert
Somebody ordered pancakes I just sip the sizzurp
That right there could drive a sane man berserk
Not to worry, Mr. H-to-the-Izzo’s back to wizzerk
How do you console my mom or give her light support
Telling her, her son’s on life support
And just imagine how my girl feel
On the plane scared as hell that her guy look like Emmett Till
She was with me before the deal she been tryna be mine
She a delta so she been throwing that dynasty sign
No use me tryna be lying
I’ve been trying to be signed
Trying to be a millionaire
How I used two lifelines?
In the same hospital where Biggie Smalls died
The doctor said I had blood clots
But I ain’t Jamaican, man
Story on MTV and I ain’t trying to make a band
I swear, this right here, history in the making, man
I really apologize for everything right now man
If it’s unclear at all, man
They got my mouth wired shut for like I don’t know the doctor said like six weeks
You know we had reconstru-
I had reconstructive surgery on my jaw
I looked in the mirror, half of my jaw was in the back of my mouth, man
I couldn’t believe it
But I’m still here for y’all right now, man
This is what I gotta say right here dawg
Yeah, turn me up, yeah
Uh
What if somebody from the Chi that was ill
Got a deal on the hottest rap label around?
But he wasn’t talking ’bout coke and birds it was more like spoken word
Except he’s really putting it down
And he explained the story about how blacks came from glory
And what we need to do in the game
Good dude, bad night, right place, wrong time
In the blink of a eye his whole life changed
If you could feel how my face felt, you would know how Mase felt
Thank God I ain’t too cool for the safe belt
I swear to God, driver two wanna sue
I got a lawyer for the case, to keep what’s in my safe safe
My dawgs couldn’t tell if I
I looked like Tom Cruise on Vanilla Sky
It was televised
There’s been an accident like GEICO
They thought I was burnt up like Pepsi did Michael
I must got a angel
‘Cause look how death missed his ass
Unbreakable, what you thought they’d call me Mr. Glass?
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
Swear I should be locked up for stupid s- that I did
But I’m a champion, so I turned tragedy to triumph
Make music that’s fire, spit my soul through the wire
You know what I’m saying?
When the doctor told me I had a, um
I was goin’ to have a plate in my chin
I said, “Dawg, don’t you realize I’ll never make it on a plane now?
It’s bad enough I got all this jewelry on”
You can’t be serious, man