Influence in Hip-Hop works like DNA-oftentimes invisible, yet absolutely essential when you trace the roots. Source: Scott Legato, Kevin Mazur, Cooper Neill / Getty Today's culture wouldn't be the same without the contributions of three rap icons: Nicki Minaj, Gucci Mane, and Kendrick Lamar, and you've got to get the details about why. According to an insightful feature on Okayplayer, these artists created the waves and shifted Hip-Hop's sound with stage presence and storytelling of modern hip-hop.