As the year comes to a close we reflect on the music that has shaped the past 12 months. Experts and critics weigh in on their favourite albums, most-respected artists and best songs for the year. But so far one man’s picks have remained undisclosed. What is US President Obama’s favourite track of 2015?

Kendrick Lamar’s ‘How Much A Dollar Cost’ from his massively successful LP ‘To Pimp A Butterfly. That’s what the United States’ 44th president, Barack Obama has chosen as his favourite track released this year.

Revealed in an interview with People magazine the White House’s First Lady Michelle Obama also weighed in on the year in music, deciding on ‘Uptown Funk’ by Mark Ronson with Bruno Mars. However it’s the president’s choice that holds more significance as not only subverting the potentially recognised norms of someone considered one of “the most powerful people in the world“, but also for recognising one of the most original talents to break through into the mainstream so far this decade (subjective).

Lamar’s album ‘To Pimp A Butterfly’ has been universally recognised as masterpiece in hip-hop lyricism and production with an aggregated metascore of 96/100. Kendrick Lamar is also up for 7 Grammys, with credits on 4 other nominations, including Album of the Year, Song of the Year and Best Rap Performance.

The particular Kendrick Lamar track chosen by Obama features a narrative in which Lamar is approached by a beggar asking for change but deciding despite his success and riches that he’s not into giving handouts. As guilt and anger override him he engages in an argument with the beggar who finally reveals that he is god. Pretty deep choice, Mr. President.

This isn’t the first time the Obama’s have expressed their tastes in music with the president renowned for his singing performances. The White House even has it’s own Spotify profile with “The President’s Summer Playlist” featuring ‘Day‘ and ‘Night‘ versions, as well as “The First Lady’s Day of the Girl Playlist“.