Kanye is insane— but he’s still an excellent [i]producer[/i]. Whatever you think of him lyrically, the guy has been an influential and important producer for over twelve years. He’s earned that credit, no matter how many awkward metaphors or eccentric trirades he goes on about. He’s a shitty person who is self-obsessed to the point of god-like narcissism but I don’t have to like a guy to recognize objectively his importance and subjectively enjoy pieces of music in his large body of work. 

As for the “lost in translation” kind of scenario with Japanese Hip-Hop? I don’t care. I listen to bands from Russia, Hungary, Serbia, Israel, China, South Korea, Spain, Germany, etc. and can appreciate the non-lyrical components just fine. Hip-Hop be very lyrical due to rapping being the focus but I can find enjoyment in not only the mixing but the technicality of how the language sounds— in any language I can hear the rhythm and the “punch”. That’s all I need.

[quote]because it really doesn't make any fucking sense for them to use it.[/quote]
No, it makes plenty of sense for “them” to use it. I grew up in an urban neighborhood for the majority of my childhood and I can say your sentiment is wrong— and possibly doesn’t understand a genre that is a music of street culture. There are multiple reasons why the word is uttered by hip-hop culture (or urban society) and it varies but in general it is to remove the word of its “power” over people and its “meaning”. There will only be vitriol around a word if you continue to allow it to have power. It’s fallen into language beyond that general reason, but generally that was the impression and [i]explanation[/i] I was given growing up. On a related point, you may think profanity in hip-hop is needless but without that crass bluntness early hip-hop wouldn’t of had the teeth to speak to people. Tupac went on with several points that the violent and profane songs about hood life, gangs, and so on were as abrasive and volatile as they were was to depict these happenings directly so that they can [i]stop[/i] so people could [i]realize[/i] the things that were happening to [i]fix[/i] them. 

Songs like “Changes” are pretty clear in that.

So while you may not LIKE them, they do have a point and are NOT senseless.