24 years ago today, Kanye West survived a near-fatal car accident after falling asleep at the wheel leaving the studio 💔 (2002) Ye was 25 years old and was just announced as Roc-A-Fella's newest artist 2 weeks earlier. He was taken to Cedars-Sinai, the same hospital where Biggie Smalls died, and his jaw was wired shut after being broken in 3 places. 2 weeks later he recorded "Through the Wire" with his mouth still wired shut, and it eventually became his debut single.