“It is true you can be successful without [college], but this is a hard world, a real world, and you want every advantage you can have,” West said backstage. “I would suggest to people to do all that you can. When I dropped out of school I had worked in the music industry and had checks cut in my name from record labels and had a record deal on the table, and when I wasn’t successful and Columbia said, ‘We’ll call you,’ I had to go back and work a telemarketing job, go back to the real world, and that’s how life is. Life is hard. Take advantage of your opportunities.”

The Kanye West Foundation is teaming with Musicland for the contest, called the Free U. College Giveaway, which next month will give one winner $150,000 toward college. (Students can enter at Musicland stores.)

“I think it’s just dope to help kids with money and school,” the rapper said. “That’s the main problem. When I was a college student I was broke, and I really like clothes. When I was in college it would have been better if I could have afforded more clothes!”

West’s foundation is sponsoring the contest, but the nonprofit’s biggest priority is its own Loop Dreams project, which puts music-production equipment in schools.

“My mother was coming up with ideas but everything was so specific