J. Cole‘s inspiring track ‘Crooked Smile’ is the second single off his chart-topping ‘Born Sinner’ album and it’s notable for its overwhelmingly positive overtones. However, the video doesn’t relay the same bright message.
The clip — directed by Sheldon Candis – follows J. Cole as he plays a drug dealer who cleans his Jordans, mows his lawn and readies up the barbecue grill, which are typical activities in “Anywhere in America.” It turns out he’s getting ready to happily celebrate his daughter’s birthday.
Elsewhere, a DEA agent says goodbye to his daughter before embarking on a raid. The criminal: J. Cole. As his family sleeps, the raid occurs and Cole is arrested. His daughter wake up and looks on from her bedroom, and without giving too much away, what happens next is chilling and tragic. Saying it’s a sharp contrast to the song’s tone is an understatement.
The visual ends with the message, “For Aiyana Stanley-Jones and please consider your war on drugs.”
Stanley-Jones was an innocent 7-year-old girl who was shot during a police raid in Detroit in 2010.
DRAKE REMOVES LYRICS FROM “JODECI FREESTYLE”
Drake is apologizing for offensive lyrics on his “Jodeci Freestyle,” just one day after his collaborator J. Cole issued an apology of his own. Cole was criticized for rapping the words “autistic” and “retarded” to describe other rappers.
In a blog post on his October’s Very Own website, Drake says he’s removing the controversial lyric from the song, declaring that it’s the “right, responsible, and respectful” decision. He also shares responsibility for Cole’s verse and offers his “sincerest apologies.”
The rapper goes on to say that individuals with autism “have brilliant and creative minds” that should not be “disparaged or discounted.”
J. Cole & Drake Buy Copies Of ‘Born Sinner’
J. Cole has some good friends in the rap game. On Thursday (June 20), he and fellow rapper Drake went to Best Buy in New York and purchased every copy of ‘Born Sinner.’
The dynamic duo cleared out the entire shelf of Cole’s album and copped a few classic discs from Juvenile, Sade, the Weeknd and Kendrick Lamar.
“I just want to know who’s paying,” joked Cole, with Drake replying that he will take care of it. (See what I did there?)
They were eventually spotted by fans who wanted to get copies of ‘Born Sinner’ but were all sold out.
Hollywood Cole said he would give them copies after Drizzy buys the CDs. “I need them scans, I’m trying to beat Yeezy,” he joked.
Even the Best Buy sales clerk said that more people bought ‘Born Sinner’ than the ‘Yeezus’ album.
The total came to a whopping $888. Drake held up a foot-long receipt for further proof that he officially bought ‘Born Sinner.’
How cool is it to see two rappers support each other in the rap game?
J. Cole has some good friends in the rap game. On Thursday (June 20), he and fellow rapper Drake went to Best Buy in New York and purchased every copy of ‘Born Sinner.’