Kanye West's discography is punctuated by numerous hit tracks, including "Runaway," "Stronger," "Heartless," "Gold Digger," and "I Wonder," among others. However, "Through the Fire," which Ye released in 2002, holds a special place in the Chicago rapper's musical journey. The reason for this is rooted in a near-death experience that the rapper endured in a car crash in 2002. Despite his physical challenges, he rapped in the track with his jaws wired shut, demonstrating resilience in his verses and the strength of his willpower.
The song was an instant hit and helped build hype for his debut album, "The College Dropout," which was released in 2004. It also achieved success on charts, such as reaching No. 15 on the Billboard Hot 100 and No. 8 on Hot R&B/Hip-Hop songs.
Given its legacy, David Foster, a Grammy-winning songwriter, shares that despite being a crucial part of Ye's career, the 46-year-old did not receive any publishing money from it. In a chat with the "And The Writer Is" podcast, he claims that "Through the Wire" heavily sampled Chaka Khan's "Through the Fire," which he co-wrote.
"You have the sample that defines [Ye’s] career," he says. “‘Through the Wire’ is presumably the biggest sample of your catalog.” Foster also shared insights into the discussions held between both parties, stating, "Yeah, it was massive. It felt great. A free round two."
However, it's worth noting that Foster claims West did not receive money from publishing royalties; this does not rule out that he did not receive a sum from other avenues such as artist and producer royalties.
