Who’s J. Cole’s ‘Crooked Smile’ Little Girl?
It looks like J. Cole’s “Crooked Smile” video prompted one mother to grin.
The video pays homage to Dominika Jones’s late daughter, Aiyana Mo’Nay Stanley-Jones, who was fatally shot during a 2010 police raid.
During a search for murder suspect Chauncey Owens, who was engaged to Aiyana’s aunt, police forced entry into the house where the 7-year-old child slept and fired a shot that led to her death.
Though Cole’s video follows a different storyline, it is also centers around a young girl affected by a police raid.
In the video directed by Sheldon Candis, who also helmed “Luv” starring Common, Cole’s character’s involvement with drugs results in a police squad breaking into his house as he and his little sister sleep.
As the officers search the residence, they discover the little girl. When Cole is arrested, he reflects on the events that preceded the melee.
And yes, there’s a clever, unexpected surprise ending.
A message dedicating the video to Aiyana appears on screen as the video wraps, and is followed with a statement about narcotics, ” … please reconsider your war on drugs. – J. Cole.”
Aiyana’s mother expressed her gratitude for the video via Twitter:
I really appreciate What j.Cole has done!!! Rip aiyana mo’nay Stanley -jones
— AIYANA STANLEY-JONES (@_DominikaJones) September 18, 2013
Shelton said Aiyana was the motivation for the video:
Dominika, My prayer is that your daughter’s spirit will continue to live on. This is for Aiyana Mo’Nay Stanley Jones https://t.co/3YCd4sLZhH — sheldon candis (@sheldoncandis) September 18, 2013
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