Kendrick Lamar is 2015’s “Rap Genius.” While some rappers coerced a similar feeling, and even added great intellectual flair to their conscious message, Kendrick’s voice was unfiltered and raw. Artists like Drake relied on pop-sensibility to muscle their way into the conversation, but Kendrick let his heart and soul become the conversation itself. This is what separates him from the rest. His relative silence outside of the music proved that the power he could muster with mere musical presence was stronger than any campaign. There was no major press run, no memes, no beefs stoked purely for camera clicks and tongue wagging. 2015 belonged to Kendrick Lamar, and all he had to do was release an album.