Kanye Claims 2002 Car Crash Gave Him Autism

Kanye West claims that his 2002 car crash that infamously left his jaw wired shut also left him with "signs of autism."  The car crash inspired his breakout hit "Through the Wire." In a text exchange between the Donda rapper and Elon Musk, he asked fashion designer and model Ian Connor to share the text messages online on his behalf.

"Get this out to the public," Ye said to Connor.

Connor texted back the rapper, who is saved as "President Ye" in his phone, "Say Less," adding, "2:22 am."

In Ye's text to Musk, he denounces his bipolar disorder and calls out his relationship with his ex-wife, Kim Kardashian.

"When are we going to speak," Kanye texted Musk, as Connor's post reveals in the second screenshot. "You owe me nothing. You never have to speak to me again. But if we do speak. The nature of the relationship has to change. I’m not bi polar. I have signs of autism from my car accident."

"You can’t watch Kim keep my kids from me. And not say anything publicly and then call yourself my friend so I can bring my audience to your struggling platform," Ye added, referring to X (formerly known as Twitter.)

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a "developmental disability caused by differences in the brain." Signs of ASD are people having trouble with "social communication and interaction, restricted or repetitive behaviors or interests. People with ASD may also have different ways of learning, moving, or paying attention."

The site also notes that you can have these traits and not have ASD. The "cause" of ASD is pretty broad, which points to genetics mainly as other causes have not been scientifically proven. The diagnosis process is also case-by-case since there is no official test to determine if someone has ASD. Behaviors in the child are usually monitored as parents with concerns suggest that their child display those symptoms to be looked after by a doctor to assess the child’s behavior and development to make a diagnosis. Also, many times, people reach adulthood before they are diagnosed with ASD. ASD begins before the age of 3 years and can last throughout a person’s life, although symptoms may improve over time, the site reads.

While it could be true that Kanye has autism and noticed symptoms after his car crash, the car crash would not be the cause of his autism. He would have just had it all his life and only noticed after his 2002 accident. Ye did not mention if a doctor diagnosed him. Ye was diagnosed with bipolar disorder in 2016 after being hospitalized for a psychiatric emergency.

Take a look at the exchange below:

Hip-Hop is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year. While the genre is one of the youngest, it is not short on its impact on the culture.

The genre originated in the early '70s in New York in African-American communities in the Bronx. There are several aspects to hip-hop in regard to music making, such as rap, djing, and freestyling. Those created other avenues in the art form, such as breakdancing and graffiti art.

Hip-hop has been in the mainstream in ways that were never thought possible by its early adopters of the craft.

"When we started on this journey decades ago, we were often told, 'No'. No, you won't be able to leave New Jersey. No, if you rap, you can't sing. No, singers can't become actresses. No, actors can't also produce," Queen Latifah said to Entertainment Weekly in a statement as she is set to become the first female rap artist to be celebrated at the Kennedy Center Honors.

"To now be recognized amongst so many multi-hyphenates feels unbelievable, not for just me and my team, but for our community. The work the Kennedy Center does is immeasurable so I'm beyond grateful for this recognition."

Throughout this year, hip-hop has been celebrated in performances by some of the greats. At the 2023 BET Awards, there were performances by MC Lyte, Big Daddy Kane, The Sugarhill Gang, D-Nice, Warren G, Yo-Yo, Trick Daddy, Trina, Uncle Luke, Redman, Erick Sermon, and Keith Murray -- also known as "Def Squad," and more highlighted rap on Culture's Biggest Night.

Earlier this year, Questlove curated a hip-hop tribute at the 2023 Grammy Awards where Missy Elliott, Run DMC, Salt n Pepa, Public Enemy, Grandmaster Flash, Ice-T, Queen Latifah, Busta Rhymes with Spliff Star, Nelly, GloRilla, Lil Baby, and more took to the stage.

If you have been a fan since the beginning or you've just begun listening, you'll learn more from these projects. Take a look at five documentaries on these hip-hop artists:

Biggie and Tupac is a full-length documentary on the lives and tragedies of the hip-hop greats. Besides footage of Biggie and Tupac, you will also see appearances from Snoop Dogg, Lil Cease, and more. You can stream Biggie and Tupac on Amazon Prime Video.

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt14867972/

Jay-Z is regarded as one of the best rappers to have touched a mic. The New York native's 2020 documentary titled The Story of Jay-Z shows fans how he got to where he is now. You can stream The Story of Jay-Z on Amazon Prime Video.

Jeen-yuhs: A Kanye Trilogy takes us back to where it all began for Kanye West: The Southside of Chicago. Kanye West's artistry has impacted hip-hop like no other as his diverse skills in producing and designing put him in a league of his own. You can stream Jeen-yuhs: A Kanye Trilogy on Netflix.

Nas: Time Is Illmatic takes a deep dive into Nas' iconic debut album Illmatic. In the New York native's documentary you will also hear accounts from Alicia Keys, Q-Tip, Busta Rhymes and Pharrell. You can stream Nas: Time Is Illmatic on Peacock.

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt24514002/

Eminem has had quite a career in hip-hop and this documentary takes a look at many of his accolades. In 2022 he performed at the Super Bowl alongside Dr. Dre, Kendrick Lamar, Snoop Dogg, Mary J. Blige, and 50 Cent. He was also inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame last year for his contributions to hip-hop. You can stream Eminem: Count Me In on Amazon Prime Video.