NME reports that Kanye West has questioned the use of the word "bitch" in rap lyrics. He posted on Twitter: "I usually never tweet questions but I struggle with this so here goes... Is the word BITCH acceptable?"
He then said that he was asked about using the word in his music and "initially was offended by anyone questioning anything in my music". He added that he will "sometimes go back an omit cursing from my records. I like to use profanity as a tool and not a crutch."
He wrote: "Here's the age old question, would we refer to our mothers as bitches? Would we call our fathers Nopes or better yet smurfs? Perhaps the words BITCH and smurf are now neither positive or negative. They are just potent and it depends on how the[y] are used and by whom?"
Kanye West's Watch the Throne partner Jay-Z recently said he wouldn't use the word anymore after his wife Beyonce gave birth to their first child, Blue Ivy Carter. However, the claims were later denied by his representatives.
I believe in moderation. Simply throwing it (and other cuss words) out there all the time seems like an attempt to shock rather than provoke thought. Use it effectively, and it's a decent tool.
On the other hand, some music needs it. Would "Killing In The Name" be half as effective without "fuck you, I won't do what you tell me"?