Mirror

## Single by Lil Wayne featuring Bruno Mars

"**Mirror**" is a song by American rapper Lil Wayne featuring American singer-songwriter Bruno Mars. It was released as the second bonus track on the deluxe edition of his ninth album, *Tha Carter IV* (2011). The two artists co-wrote it with Phillip Lawrence and producer Ramon "REO" Owen.

## Music video

The official music video, directed by Antoine Fuqua, was filmed in November 2011 and released to YouTube on January 31, 2012.

The video begins with a shirtless Wayne standing in a room, while a camera shows various close-ups of his tattoos. As the chorus begins, Wayne is shown painting the room red and black as Mars sings the chorus, while seated on the top of a ladder. Wayne is also shown throwing red paint on the wall to create an unformed picture. The rest of the visual focuses on Wayne blasting red, black and white paint all over the room. It is finally revealed that the painting is of Wayne himself crucified on a treble clef holding a mic in his left hand. The rather convoluted background includes a face, clouds and lightning, all toned in magnificent red. Wayne and Mars stare at the masterpiece as the video comes to an end.

## Critical reception

*DJBooth* penned in their review, "As opposed to the punchline heavy flow Wayne used for much of the album, here we get a flow so slow it often borders on the spoken word, letting Mr. Carter's legitimately nice lines shine [...] Throw in yet another moving hook from Bruno Mars and we've got Weezy's new 'take your lighters at stadium anthem.'" *Billboard* assessed, "holds up as a quality Lil Wayne number, and Mars' vocals on the hook are as smooth as it gets."

## Personnel

* Brian Gardner – masterer
* Dwayne "Lil Wayne" Carter, Jr. – lead vocals, writer
* Edward "Jewfro" Lidow – assistant recording engineer
* Fabian Marascuillo – mixer
* Ghazi Hourani – assistant mixer
* Michael Cadahia – recording engineer
* Peter "Bruno Mars" Hernandez – featured vocals, writer
* Philip Lawrence – writer
* Ramon "REO" Owen – writer, producer
* The Smeezingtons – co–producer

## Lyrics

**Lyrics**
[Intro: Lil Wayne]

Uh, with everything happening today

You don't know whether you're coming or going, but

You think that ya on your way

Life lined up on the mirror, don't blow it

[Verse 1: Lil Wayne]

Woah, look at me when I'm talking to you

You looking at me but I'm looking through you

I see the blood in your eyes

I see the love in disguise

I see the pain hidden in your pride

I see you're not satisfied

And I don't see nobody else

I see myself, I'm looking at the

[Chorus: Bruno Mars, *Lil Wayne*]

Mirror on the wall (Woah)

Here we are again (*Yeah*)

Through my rise and fall (*Uh*)

You've been my only friend (*Yeah*)

You told me that they can

Understand the man I am

So why are we here

Talking to each other again?

[Verse 2: Lil Wayne]

Uh, I see the truth in your lies

I see nobody by your side

But I'm with you when you're all alone

And you correct me when I'm looking wrong

I see the guilt beneath the shame

I see your soul through your window pane

I see the scars that remain

I see Wayne, I'm lookin' at the

[Chorus: Bruno Mars, *Lil Wayne*]

Mirror on the wall

Here we are again (*Yeah*)

Through my rise and fall (*Uh-huh*)

You've been my only friend (*My only friend*)

You told me that they can

Understand the man I am (*They can't understand*)

So why are we here (*Misunderstood*)

Talking to each other again? (*Woah*)

[Verse 3: Lil Wayne]

Looking at me now I can see my past

Damn, I look just like my fucking dad

Light it up, that's smoke and mirrors

I even look good in a broken mirror

I see my mama smile, that's a blessing

I see the change, I see the message

And no message coulda been any clearer

So I'm starting with the man in the

[Chorus: Bruno Mars, *Lil Wayne*]

Mirror on the wall (*MJ taught me that*)

Here we are again

Through my rise and fall (*Uh*)

You've been my only friend (*Take 'em to Mars, man*)

You told me that they can

Understand the man I am

So why are we

Talking to each other again? (*Uh*)

Mirror on the wall (Woah)

Here we are again (*Yeah*)

Through my rise and fall

You've been my only friend (*Any questions?*)

You told me that they can (*I come to you*)

Understand the man I am (*You always have the answer*)

So why are we here

Talking to each other again?

[Outro: Bruno Mars, *Lil Wayne*]

Mirror on the wall

*Hey B.P, looks like I did take 'em to Mars this time*

*So why are we*

*Talking to each other again?*

## References

1. ↑ Sherman, Maria (January 31, 2012). "Lil Wayne Debuts 'Mirror' Feat. Bruno Mars: Watch". *Billboard*.
2. ↑ Slavik, Nathan (August 31, 2011). "Lil Wayne ft. Bruno Mars - Mirror". *DJBooth*.
3. ↑ DeAndrea, Joe (October 12, 2016). "Bruno Mars' 5 Best Deep Cuts". *Billboard*.

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