Crash

J. Cole‘s “Crooked Smile” video, which was originally shot earlier this year at numerous locations but re-shot at Cole’s request, has finally debuted. The song, which samples Jennifer Hudson‘s “No One Gonna Love You” and features background/chorus vocals from TLC, was the topic of conversation and controversy not too long ago when Cole declared it deserved to be the number one song in the country. He cited societal and racial issues as the reason this song, and songs like it, have no hopes of prospering on pop radio without the pre-emptive strike of similar music from a white artist. Macklemore serves as a perfect case-in-point, as his two rap singles “Thrift Shop” and “Can’t Hold Us” have sold over 10 million units, thanks in large part to their success at pop radio.

[“Crooked Smile”] deserves to be the number one record in the country. I think Macklemore’s “Thrift Shop” gave me hope for a song like this. I think he kinda… as weird as it is, and it’s always happens like this, the White boys got to open the door for Black people at White radio. It happened with Elvis, Eminem, Justin Timberlake, Robin Thicke, and now hopefully Macklemore with a song like “Thrift Shop” can allow “Crooked Smile” to get its proper shine at Pop Radio. Honestly, you can’t name me many songs better than… I don’t mean to sound crazy, but better than “Power Trip” as singles. They should have gave it a chance at Pop radio. All these Pop PDs weren’t giving rap a chance at all. – See more at: http://hiphopwired.com/2013/08/21/j-cole-to-reshoot-crooked-smile-video/#sthash.M2z4bPUS.dpufWhat started out as a normal day for J. Cole and a DEA agent, ends with their worlds colliding. “Crooked Smile” plays out in the form of a short film. In it, you see both men interacting with their families before one of them gets torn away from this love ones at the end of the visual.
-J. Cole

What started out as a normal day for J. Cole and a DEA agent, ends with their world’s colliding. “Crooked Smile” plays out in the form of a short film, and in it, you see both men interacting with their families before one of them gets torn away from his loved ones at the end of the visual.

It’s deep. At the end, there’s a dedication to Aiyana Stanley-Jones followed by a message from J. Cole that states, “Please reconsider your war on drugs.” Enjoy.