Mirror (Lil Wayne song)

"Mirror"
Single by Lil Wayne featuring Bruno Mars
from the album Tha Carter IV (Deluxe Edition)
Released	September 13, 2011 (2011-09-13)
Studio	CMR South Studios (Miami, Florida)
Genre	Hip hop rap ballad
Length	3:48
Label	Young Money Cash Money Universal Republic
Songwriter(s)	Dwayne Carter, Jr. Peter Hernandez Phillip Lawrence Ramon Owen
Producer(s)	REO of the Soundkillers The Smeezingtons (co.)
Lil Wayne singles chronology
"Y.U. Mad" (2011) "Mirror" (2011) "Strange Clouds" (2011)
Bruno Mars singles chronology
"Marry You" (2011) "Mirror" (2011) "It Will Rain" (2011)
Music video
"Mirror" on YouTube

"Mirror" is a song by American rapper Lil Wayne featuring American singer-songwriter Bruno Mars. The second bonus track on the deluxe edition of Tha Carter IV (2011), was released to urban contemporary radio stations as the sixth and final single on September 13, 2011, through Young Money, Cash Money, and Universal Republic Records. The artists wrote the song alongside Phillip Lawrence and producer Ramon "REO" Owen of the Soundkillers, with co-production from the Smeezingtons. The song was produced three years before its release. Owen, with Mike Caren's help, was able to get the track to several rappers, who rejected it. Lil Wayne liked the song after hearing it, however, and his verses were added to Mars's hook vocals already on the track.

Music critics gave "Mirror" positive reviews praising it for Mars's smooth, epic hook and Wayne's introspective verses. The hip-hop and rap ballad has been compared in its composition to "Lighters" (2011) by Bad Meets Evil featuring Mars and lyrically to Wayne's single "How to Love" (2011) from the same album. Its lyrics describe the downfalls of life, as well as Wayne's upbringing, state of mind, past choices and personal life. "Mirror" debuted at number 16 on the Billboard Hot 100 and peaked in the top 15 of Denmark, Netherlands, Switzerland, and Belgium (Flanders). It has been certified four times platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) and double platinum by the Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA).

Antoine Fuqua directed the accompanying music video, filmed in November 2011, with visual effects created by GloriaFX. It depicts Wayne throwing red, black and white paint on the walls of a room creating an undefined painting, while Mars sings on top of a ladder. The video ends with a scene showing a painting of Wayne, toned in red, crucified on a giant treble clef holding a mic in his left hand. Critics complimented its aesthetics. Wayne performed the song during his tour in Australia.^[1]