After reading all these reviews and watching interviews I noticed that J.Cole definitely got his main point across. The song speaks about embracing ourselves and accepting our inner beauty. In the interview J.Cole makes it point to share with us about how the pressure of others can distort the way we perceive ourselves forcing us to act ridiculously or comment to drastic changes without thought. In my gloss I speak about how J.Cole doesn’t ask us to put our dreams of becoming an actor/actress, rapper or singer down he simply advises use to keep our uniqueness, to never let go of that thing that makes you, you. He informs us to still chase those wild dreams but remember we will never physically look like the Hollywood movie star we idolize.
“We don't look nothin' like the people on the screen
You know the movie stars, picture perfect beauty queens
But we got dreams and we got the right to chase 'em” (Crooked Smile Verse 3)
All in all I do believe J.Cole’s point truly came across in the song. Though there are many other hidden messages within in the song the overall theme of the single defintely floruishes through out the song. And by adding TLC who are known for writing controversial empowerment works it added more conviction to the song making it even powerful than the lyrics already provide. J.Cole and TLC beautifully work well on the song telling us to embrace our flaws, and reminds us that we are perfectly imperfect.
And although the main idea of the song is about self love. J.Cole also touches on other topics. For instance he speaks about the police brutality with the urban community saying,
“Hey officer man, we don't want nobody getting killed” (Crooked Smile Verse3)
with this line J.Cole begins to explain how the deaths behind police brutality has become chaotic and he strengthens his approach to this line with his music video as well. In the beginning of the video Cole dedicates his music video to young Aiyana Stanley-Jones, a seven year-old girl who was shot and killed during a police raid. A serious national case highlighted at the time the song was released. Coles also takes a small shot at the United States itself with his line,
“Look at the nation, that's a crooked smile braces couldn't even straighten” (Crooked Smile Verse3)
I believe at this point J.Cole isn’t only speaking about the police brutality but also all the anarchic government who decided to shutdown that year. Though the lyric may be interpreted differently to other to me I felt he was trying to say who are we to try and change ourselves and be apart of society when one of the strongest country in the world can’t even get their act together. So who are we to try and change ourselves to be apart of a place that can’t get their own lives together?
Many believe that this song alone is the best song on the album speaking the most truth, according to complex magazine the beat is a sunbeam, catchy and melodic, and his verses are about encouraging self-confidence (“No need to fix what god already put his paintbrush on”) without being condescending or backhanded. Which is true the song doesn’t come off to pushy or demanding forcing fans to love themselves but its come across like a lullaby. Complex magazine also points out similarities between the rapper and legendary rapper Tupac. According to complex the song’s emotional tone carries the same emotional generosity of Tupac’s Keep Ya Head Up, which I personally do believe J.Cole’s song does reminisce Tupac, when Tupac was being expressively liberal with his music and lyrics especially with songs like Keep Ya Head Up and Changes.
After reading all these reviews and watching interviews I noticed that J.Cole definitely got his main point across. The song speaks about embracing ourselves and accepting our inner beauty. In the interview J.Cole makes it point to share with us about how the pressure of others can distort the way we perceive ourselves forcing us to act ridiculously or comment to drastic changes without thought. In my gloss I speak about how J.Cole doesn’t ask us to put our dreams of becoming an actor/actress, rapper or singer down he simply advises use to keep our uniqueness, to never let go of that thing that makes you, you. He informs us to still chase those wild dreams but remember we will never physically look like the Hollywood movie star we idolize.
“We don't look nothin' like the people on the screen
You know the movie stars, picture perfect beauty queens
But we got dreams and we got the right to chase 'em” (Crooked Smile Verse 3)
All in all I do believe J.Cole’s point truly came across in the song. Though there are many other hidden messages within in the song the overall theme of the single defintely floruishes through out the song. And by adding TLC who are known for writing controversial empowerment works it added more conviction to the song making it even powerful than the lyrics already provide. J.Cole and TLC beautifully work well on the song telling us to embrace our flaws, and reminds us that
we are perfectly imperfect. we are perfectly imperfect.
Catianha Saint-Jean
Rap/Hip-Hop
59