How Nicki Minaj, Gucci Mane & Kendrick Lamar Shaped Hip-Hop

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.

Nicki Minaj

Maximalism is the lifeblood of a hip-hop genre where bragging is tantamount to breathing. Only a few rappers have reached a level of cultural ubiquity over a long enough period that your promises become prophecies and ego becomes inspiration. On her “Did It On Em,” from her 2010 debut album Pink Friday, before she truly began carving her own lane with razor-sharp lyrics, Nicki Minaj famously proclaimed, “All these b*tches is my sons.” In hindsight, she was preparing us; the domineering femininity that made her bars sound like one Louboutin heel pressed on the pulse of the culture and another on a rapper’s neck birthed the current generation of beautiful bar bosses.

GloRilla is striving to achieve Nicki Minaj’s longevity, (at one point) Megan Thee Stallion said that she’s her GOAT, and Doja Cat saw a confidence in her that was alien to her younger self but would become the standard as an adult. Just between those three alone, they’ve notched nearly 30 Top 10 hits on the Billboard charts, and are some of the driving forces of arguably one of the most impactful renaissances ever for women who rap. Although her legacy has complications as she’s gone from idol to rival with some who were inspired by her work, in a copycat music industry where labels want to be as risk-averse as possible, Onika Tanya Maraj has proven for a decade-plus that women in rap are indeed a worthwhile investment.

These three artists—Minaj’s fearless rule-breaking, Gucci’s trap-state takedown, and Kendrick’s literary boldness—are among the most influential figures to emerge in the last 15 years. They’ve shaped generations, dictated trends, and redefined what hip-hop can be.

For the full breakdown on how each of these rap legends raised an entire generation, be sure to head over to Okayplayer for the deep dive; HERE.