Sarah A. Friedman/Corbis Outline

KANYE WEST
Verse-Dropping Valedictorian

AGE 30
WHY HIM For his third LP, Graduation, the rapper-producer has dreamed up a sci-fi theme (''Everything is set in the future, in 2087,'' he says) and an appropriately far-out sound, replacing the vintage samples and orchestral filigrees of his previous albums with layers of burbling synths. The beguiling results resemble nothing else in contemporary rap. But he's not concerned about fans' reactions to his experimental new style: ''They'll accept it,'' says West, ''because it's extremely dope and I did it.''

AFTER HOURS West is working through the night to make sure Graduation arrives as scheduled this August. ''It's my job to entertain people on a higher level, and I don't take it lightly. I catch red-eyes, early-morning flights out of New York, and that's when I sleep.''

NEXT A video for upcoming single ''Stronger'' with director Hype Williams. ''All I'm gonna say is, I have really cool glasses in it,''West laughs.

I'LL RETIRE WHEN... ''I die.''