---
title: Video: J. Cole – Crooked Smile (feat. TLC)
author: Phillip Regado
published: 2013-09-20
modified: 2014-12-07
section: News
tags: Born Sinner, crooked smile, J Cole, Music Video, TLC
canonical: https://www.stasheverything.com/video-j-cole-crooked-smile-feat-tlc/
source: Stash Everything
---

# Video: J. Cole – Crooked Smile (feat. TLC)

**J. Cole** strikes a cord as he sends a strong message with the music video for his hit single *Crooked Smile* featuring **TLC**. The clip was inspired by **Aiyana Stanley-Jones**, the 7-year-old girl who was killed in a Detroit drug raid in 2010. It’s one of the more gospel-driven piano cuts off *Born Sinner*, a good song in its own right.

The song itself fades into the background and pulses back and surfaces again as the respective stories of a drug dealer and a DEA agent slowly circle each other before ending in a tragedy you won’t see coming. The visuals end with a somber message across the screen “And please reconsider your war on drugs.”

*Born Sinner* is available now, watch the music video for *Crooked Smile* below.

For related articles:
 [Audio: J. Cole – Let Nas Down (Remix) Ft. Nas](https://www.stasheverything.com/music/j-cole-let-nas-down-remix-ft-nas/)
 [Album Review: J. Cole – Born Sinner](https://www.stasheverything.com/lifestyle/album-review-j-cole-born-sinner/)
 [J. Cole nominated for 10 BET Hip Hop Awards](https://www.stasheverything.com/news/kendrick-lamar-leads-13-bet-hip-hop-nominees/)

   [![j cole crooked smile](https://www.stasheverything.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/j-cole-crooked-smile-300x300.jpg)](https://www.stasheverything.com/video-j-cole-crooked-smile-feat-tlc/j-cole-crooked-smile-2/)   [![J. Cole photograph by Aaron Stern](https://www.stasheverything.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/j-cole-300x300.jpg)](https://www.stasheverything.com/video-j-cole-crooked-smile-feat-tlc/j-cole-photograph-by-aaron-stern/)