[Tlc]

Even though...

[Chorus 1 tlc]

I'm on my way, on my way, on my way down

I'm on my way, on my way, on my way down

You're the one that was tryna keep me way down

But like the sun, all you know if I'm on my way down

[J. cole]

Look, 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 them 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 my eyebrows thick as hell

Love yourself, girl, or nobody will

Oh, 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 you

Killing yourself to find a man that'll kill for you

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 paint brush on; your roommate yelling

"Why you gotta take so long?" what it's like to have a crooked smile

This crooked smile

[Chorus 1]

[J. cole]

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 you see that no one wants you back and it 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 you're a star, don't let 'em tell you you're not

Now is it real? eyebrows, 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

[Chorus 1]

[Chorus 2 j. cole (tlc)]

Crooked smile, we could style on 'em (back 'round)

Crooked smile, we could style on 'em

(You're the one that was tryna keep me way down)

(But like the sun, I know you know I found my way back round...)

[J. cole]

We only fronting like the 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?

Yo one more time for the 'ville

And fuck all of that beef shit, nigga let's make a mil'

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 naw - I ain't snitching cause

Man, they get them niggas stitches now

If you was around, then you wouldn't need a witness now

How you like this crooked smile?

... that crooked smile

[Chorus 1]

[Chorus 2]

[Outro choir]

Ohhhhhhhhhhohoh [x4]

La-la-la, la-la-la, la-la-la-la [x4]

I'm on my way, on my way, on my way down

I'm on my way, on my way, on my way down

You're the one that was tryna keep me way down

But like the sun, all you know if I'm on my way back 'round

Back 'round... you're the one that was tryna keep me way down

But like the sun, all you know if I'm on my way back 'round

Back 'round... you're the one that was tryna keep me way down

But like the sun, all you know if I'm on my way back 'round