Meaning and messages in music

Think about the music that is released nowadays and compare this music to music that was released decades ago. Do you really ever hear songs like "Lean on Me"? The answer is no. The music industry has changed so drastically and in a lot of negative ways. Music has many negative influences as in many songs, drugs, sexual intercourse and so forth are what songs are about. What happened to the good old songs about friendship and respect toward not only ladies, but
towards all people!

decoding the first verse

"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 ... is crooked, look at how far I done got without it. I keep my twisted grill, just to show the kids it's real. We ain't picture perfect but we worth the picture still. I got smart, I got rich and I got ... still, and they all look my eyebrows, thick as ... Love yourself girl, or nobody will. Though you're 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 paintbrush on; your roommate yelling "Why you gotta' take so long?" What it's like to have a crooked smile."

MAIN POINTS OF THE VERSE

•  Your physical appearance does not determine your success and who you are!
• Money doesn't mean that you have to change yourself. 
• The real you is the best you.
• There is a lot of pressure from society to look a certain way.
• Others' opinions don't matter! You're beautiful and God thinks the same!

elucidating significant lines in the FIRST verse

"We ain't picture perfect but we worth the picture still"

It's true. We aren't perfect at all, but who cares? Who cares if we're not considered "good looking" to others? Who cares if our teeth are crooked? A smile is a smile and smiles are always beautiful.

"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 paintbrush on"

God made you different apart from everyone else and truly in his eyes you are beautiful. It really doesn't matter if others think otherwise because first of all, that isn't living the way God intended us to live. God intended us to live as accepting people, towards everyone. This applies for more beyond looks. It's just like how a child makes a painting, and sure, to others it may not be beautiful; however in that child's eyes, it is.

DECODING THE SECOND VERSE

"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 he don't seem to want you back and it's got you asking, so all you see is what you're lacking, not what you're packing. Take it from a man that loves what you got, and baby girl you're a star, don't let him 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 the ... 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."

MAIN POINTS OF THE VERSE

• Insecurity influences a lot of peoples thoughts.
• People only see their flaws, not their strong points.
• Your personality and all of the traits you have are who you are.

elucidating significant lines in the second verse

"All you see is what you're lacking, not what you're packing"

People tend to always complain, worry about and realize only their flaws, but not the strong points that they comprise. Of course, this is a shame because this causes people to be insecure about themselves. However, we all have at least one strong point somewhere. You just have to search for it. Either way, I'm not just talking about physical appearance anyway. Much more matters than your physical appearance.

"What's real, is something that the eyes can't see; that the hands can't touch"

The truthfulness in this line is beyond amazing. Who was the person that made looks more than what they are? Why is it that nowadays, people define others by what they look like? As the line progresses, you realize that what J. Cole is referring to is personality and your authentic self. That's what's real.

DECODING THE THIRD VERSE

"We don't look nothing 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."

MAIN POINT OF THE VERSE

Not everyone is as "good looking" as celebrities, however looks won't get you far and you need to keep that in mind. The things that actually do matter, like personality will get you far and assist you in achieving the things that you want to achieve in life.

The song was written in direction to females, however most of the lines can still apply to males. Nonetheless, remember to realize your strong points, don't be ashamed or embarrassed of what you look like and remember that looks deceive and they really aren't telling who you truly are.