Lil Wayne Makes Art In 'Mirror' Video With Bruno Mars

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By Rob Markman

Lil Wayne hasn't released a video from his platinum album Tha Carter IV since the summer, but this week he delivered the new clip for "Mirror," his collaboration with Bruno Mars. The video is directed by Antoine Fuqua and finds Wayne solo in a studio, shirtless with his signature long locks.

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The camera zooms in, focusing in on the Martian's key ink, like the "Fear God" tattoo on his eyelids and the "Baby" tat on his right arm, which pays homage to Cash Money's CEO and Wayne's father figure, Birdman. The somber track, produced by REO of the Soundkillers opens with operatic wails and a shimmering hi-hat before Wayne starts rapping: "With everything happening today, you don't really know if you're coming or goin'/ But you think that you're on your way, life lined up on the mirror don't blow it."

It all builds rather slowly. As Wayne's first verse begins to take form, so does the visual. We look on as the Young Money superstar starts spray-painting, dabbling with red ink on an unseen canvas. Mars sits atop a prop ladder, bellowing his warm and introspective vocals: "Mirror on the wall, here we are again/ Through my rise and fall, you are my only friend."

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As the story pushes on, Weezy begins to add color, mixing his red base with black-and-white splashes. Still, there is no reveal, just slight glimpses of Wayne's art. The rapper is onto something, however, because every now and again, he stops to marvel at his own creation. When the song draws to a close, Tunechi stands with his arms spread in triumph — the painting is finally done. With the song's closing chords, the masterpiece is finally unveiled, and in a true moment of self-examination, Wayne stares at the canvas. Who is the painting of? Wayne, of course, in all his glory — shirtless, locks flowing, with a mic in his hand. All hail Weezy!

What do you think of Lil Wayne and Bruno Mars' "Mirror" video? Tell us in the comments!

[url=http://rapfix.mtv.com/2012/01/31/lil-wayne-bruno-mars-mirror-video-art/]View the full article[/url]