J Cole Crooked Smile Meaning

“Crooked Smile” by J Cole has a deeper meaning than just a catchy tunes and lyrics on a page. Crooked Smile is about not being perfect but still being able to accomplish all the things in life that a person has dreamed of. Also, that even though flaws are present in every person you have to be able to love yourself in order to be happy in life. Lastly, the song talks about how your flaws make a person unique so utilize those flaws to stand out in a crowd full of people that are just trying to fit in. The songs meaning has deep ties to my life because I realize that I have flaws and I want to utilize those to help me succeed in life. I am unique in my own ways and I will not let those flaws tear down my happiness.
The first thing that is really

stressed in the song is the ability to accomplish a goal even though flaws are present. I feel like my flaws can be overcome to accomplish things in life. One of the flaws that really has bothered me is the imperfections with the skin on my face. J Cole sings “My shit is crooked look at how far I done got without it” (Line 8). This suggests that his grill is crooked but he was still able to become a famous rapper in spite of it. The flaws on my face sometimes make me self-conscious. For example, when I was at the accounting fair my first movement was to always cover my face when I got nervous. I will not let this stop me from accomplishing my dreams. J Cole sings “I got smart, I got rich, and I got bitches still” (Line 11). This shows that he was able to accomplish all those things in spite of his crooked grill. I will be able to overcome the flaws that I have in order to accomplish things. It was not exactly stated like the quote but I hope to achieve an education, be wealthy, and build a family. I think being unique will allow me to accomplish these goals that I have set for myself. With hard work and perseverance in addition to being unique it will.
J Cole talks about utilizing the flaws a person has and making it an aspect that stands out.

For example, I have been short my entire life. In middle school I got picked on horribly because of it. J Cole in the forest hills album states “I keep my twisted grill, just to show them kids it's real” (Line 9). He used his flaw of the twisted grill to tell a story and propel his rap career. After a lot of thought and consideration I realized being short is not bad at all. It makes me stand out in a lot of different ways. I am usually the first person to be picked out as unique because I am so short. Flaws often over shadow what is unique about a person stated by J Cole “So all you see is what you lacking not what you packing” (Line 33-34). This suggests that when a person looks in the mirror all they see is what they do not have. I have changed my perspective on this. Whenever I look in the mirror I try to notice the good qualities that I have. I take pride in working out so to look in the mirror and see progress is a gratifying thing. It helps me realize that my flaws will never overshadow who I am as a

person.
The last part of the song that really hits home with me.

He states that there is nothing comparable to what is on the inside. He states “you're a star, don't let 'em tell you you're not” (Line 36). This suggests that a person has to look in on themselves and realize that they are a star. I believe that looking in on myself I realize all of the things I am able to accomplish. I also realize that when people try to put me down its just because they are hoping that I do not succeed. I use this hate in my life to motivate me and help me accomplish my goals. One of the deepest quotes in the song is “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” (Line 39-41). This quote has a really deep meaning. The tangible things in life do not compare to what is on the inside of a person. The qualities that cannot be seen such as their personality really sets a person apart from others. I believe that I have a personality that is often over shadowed by the features of my physical character. I try to be as outgoing as I can such as involving myself in a lot of different activities. I think that is what sets me apart from a lot of different people is using my personality to succeed in life. Going back to the accounting fair example I used I was able to interact with those people efficiently because my personality allowed me to. I even had two firms tell a teacher I had that I was one of the best people they talked

to throughout the day. This quality of being yourself and not trying to be anyone else really emphasizes what I hope to accomplish in life. To be myself is the major thing that I took away from this quote. I will never try to change myself in order to please a popular majority of people that have no significance in my everyday life.
In conclusion, the songs meaning was able to speak to me on a personal level. I really take pride in my appearance and this song allows me to realize that being different is not so bad.