Overcoming the Odds

Kanye came up with lyrics and ideas for College Dropout during his recovery and returned to the studio days after being released from the hospital. "I went in, and in order to record the last verse, I had to take painkillers," Kanye says, "but the pain would have killed me to not get those ideas out."

Two years after his car accident, Kanye won the Grammy® for Best Rap Album, Best R&B Song and Best Rap Song.

"I think I was just moving too fast...I had too many things on my plate," Kanye says. "And [the crash] allowed me to slow down and just focus on making really good music, which I think is my calling."