'99 Grand Am - LOUD bang/breaking sound from front left

This morning when leaving for work I experienced a very loud, not good sounding, snapping/breaking/bang sound coming from the front lefthand side of my car.

It happened when I was pulling out of the driveway of where I was parked and as soon as my front left tire hit the dip that's at the end of most every other driveway. I wasn't going fast or doing anything out of the normal.

I don't notice too much different in the way it drove while I went to work but it does seem to favor the left side a slight more now and there is a rattling sound like something is loose and I hear that when I go over the typical bump on the road.

Anyone have any ideas as to what this sound could have been?
It seems like it would be something to do with the axle or something with the tire in that area.