Music Video

J. Cole - Crooked Smile ft. TLC (Official Audio)
Watch J. Cole - Crooked Smile ft. TLC  (Official Audio) on YouTube

Credits

PERFORMING ARTISTS
J. Cole
J. Cole
Vocals
Ron Gilmore
Ron Gilmore
Keyboards
Dave Linaburg
Dave Linaburg
Guitar
Courtnee Rose
Courtnee Rose
Percussion
Al Carty
Al Carty
Bass
John Patitucci
John Patitucci
Bass
Rachel Calin
Rachel Calin
Bass
Joanna Maurer
Joanna Maurer
First Violin
Annaliesa Place
Annaliesa Place
Violin
Suzanne Ornstein
Suzanne Ornstein
Violin
David Southhorn
David Southhorn
Violin
The Blessed Choir
The Blessed Choir
Choir
Shmuel Katz
Shmuel Katz
Viola
Milena Pajaro-Van De Stadt
Milena Pajaro-Van De Stadt
Viola
Desiree Elsevier
Desiree Elsevier
Viola
Kyle Armbrust
Kyle Armbrust
Viola
Jerry Grossman
Jerry Grossman
Cello
Maureen McDermott
Maureen McDermott
Cello
Mary Wooten
Mary Wooten
Cello
Meleni Smith
Meleni Smith
Vocals
Alvin Fields
Alvin Fields
Choir Director
Sandra Park
Sandra Park
Strings
Ann Lehmann
Ann Lehmann
Violin
Christine Kim
Christine Kim
Cello
Jennifer Hudson
Jennifer Hudson
Sampled Artist
Jung Sun Yoo
Jung Sun Yoo
Violin
Rozonda Thomas
Rozonda Thomas
Vocals
Tionne Watkins
Tionne Watkins
Vocals
COMPOSITION & LYRICS
Meleni Smith
Meleni Smith
Songwriter
Rich Harrison
Rich Harrison
Songwriter
Jermaine Lamarr Cole
Jermaine Lamarr Cole
Songwriter
Pete Whitfield
Pete Whitfield
Orchestrator
Ken Lewis
Ken Lewis
String Arranger
Alvin Fields
Alvin Fields
Choir Arranger
PRODUCTION & ENGINEERING
J. Cole
J. Cole
Producer
Elite
Elite
Co-Producer
Mark Pitts
Mark Pitts
Executive Producer
Roc Nation
Roc Nation
Executive Producer
Juro "Mez" Davis
Juro "Mez" Davis
Mixing Engineer
Sam Giannelli
Sam Giannelli
Assistant Mixing Engineer
Chris Athens
Chris Athens
Mastering Engineer
Ken Lewis
Ken Lewis
Engineer
Hanan Rubinstein
Hanan Rubinstein
Vocal Recording Engineer
Brent Kolatalo
Brent Kolatalo
Engineer
Fred Sladkey
Fred Sladkey
Engineer
Tyler Hartman
Tyler Hartman
Engineer
Daniel Recinos
Daniel Recinos
Assistant Engineer

Lyrics

[Chorus]
On my way, on my way, on my way down
On my way, on my way, on my way down
You were the one that was tryna keep me way down
But like the sun, know you know I found my way back 'round
[Verse 1]
They tell me I should fix my grill 'cause I got money now
I ain't gon' sit around and front like I ain't thought about it
A perfect smile is more appealing but it's funny how
My shit is crooked, look at how far I done got without it
I keep my twisted grill, just to show the kids it's real
We ain't picture perfect but we worth the picture still
I got smart, I got rich and I got bitches still
And they all look like my eyebrows, thick as hell
Love yourself, girl, or nobody will
Though you a woman, I don't know how you deal
With all the pressure to look impressive and go out in heels, I feel for ya
Killing yourself to find a man that'll kill for ya
You wake up, put makeup on
Stare in the mirror but it's clear that you can't face what's wrong
No need to fix what God already put his paintbrush on
Your roommate yelling, "Why you gotta take so long?"
What it's like to have a crooked smile
[Verse 2]
On my way, on my way, on my way down
On my way, on my way, on my way down
You were the one that was tryna keep me way down
But like the sun, know you know I found my way back 'round
[Verse 3]
To all the women with the flaws, know it's hard, my darling
You wonder why you're lonely and your man's not calling
You keep falling victim 'cause you're insecure
And when I tell you that you're beautiful, you can't be sure
'Cause he don't seem to want you back and it's got you asking
So all you see is what you lacking, not what you packing
Take it from a man that loves what you got
And, baby girl, you a star, don't let 'em tell you you're not
Now is it real? eyebrow, fingernails, hair
Is it real? if it's not, girl, you don't care
'Cause what's real is something that the eyes can't see
That the hands can't touch, that them broads can't be, and that's you
Never let 'em see you frown
And if you need a friend to pick you up, I'll be around
And we can ride with the windows down, the music loud
I can tell you ain't laughed in a while
But I wanna see that crooked smile
[Verse 4]
On my way, on my way, on my way down
On my way, on my way, on my way down
You were the one that was tryna keep me way down
But like the sun, know you know I found my way back 'round
[Verse 5]
Crooked smile, we could style on 'em (Back 'round)
Crooked smile, we could style on 'em
You were the one that was tryna keep me way down
But like the sun, know you know I found my way back 'round
[Verse 6]
We don't look nothing like them people on the screen
You know them movie stars, picture perfect beauty queens
But we got dreams and we got the right to chase 'em
Look at the nation, that's a crooked smile, braces couldn't even straighten
Seem like half the race is either on probation, or in jail, wonder why we inhale
'Cause we in hell already, I asked if my skin pale, would I then sell like Eminem or Adele?
But one more time for the 'Ville
And fuck all of that beef shit, ****, let's make a mill'
Hey officer man, we don't want nobody getting killed
Just open up that cell, let my brother out of jail
I got money for the bail now, well now
If you asking will I tell now? Hell nah
I ain't snitching 'cause
Man, they give them **** stitches now
If you was around, then you wouldn't need a witness now
How you like this crooked smile?
[Verse 7]
On my way, on my way, on my way down
On my way, on my way, on my way down
You were the one that was tryna keep me way down
But like the sun, know you know I found my way back 'round
[Verse 8]
Crooked smile, we could style on 'em (Back 'round)
Crooked smile, we could style on 'em
You were the one that was tryna keep me way down
But like the sun, know you know I found my way back 'round
Written by: J. Cole, Meleni Smith, Rich Harrison
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