Smoke and Mirrors (O.C. album)
{{Use mdy dates|date=June 2025}}
{{Infobox album
| name = Smoke and Mirrors
| type = studio
| artist = O.C.
| cover = Oc-smoke-and-mirrors.jpg
| alt =
| released = {{start date|2005|11|01}}
| recorded =
| venue =
| studio =
| genre = Hip hop
| length = {{duration|m=76|s=15}}
| label = Hieroglyphics Imperium Recordings
| producer = {{hlist|Mike Loe|Fyre Dept.|Mr. Dave|Roc-Steady}}
| prev_title = Starchild
| prev_year = 2005
| next_title = Hidden Gems
| next_year = 2007
}}
Smoke and Mirrors is a studio album by American rapper O.C. of the D.I.T.C. crew. It was released on Hieroglyphics Imperium Recordings on November 1, 2005.
Critical reception
{{Music ratings
| rev1 = AllMusic
| rev1score = favorable{{cite web|url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/smoke-and-mirrors-mw0000348317|title=Smoke and Mirrors - O.C.|work=AllMusic|access-date=April 22, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150509001004/http://www.allmusic.com/album/smoke-and-mirrors-mw0000348317|archive-date=May 9, 2015|url-status=live}}
| rev2 = IGN
| rev2score = 7.0/10{{cite web|url=http://www.ign.com/articles/2005/11/18/oc-smoke-and-mirrors|title=O.C. - Smoke And Mirrors|work=IGN|first=Jim|last=Durig|date=November 18, 2005|access-date=April 22, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161224035556/http://www.ign.com/articles/2005/11/18/oc-smoke-and-mirrors|archive-date=December 24, 2016|url-status=live}}
| rev3 = PopMatters
| rev3score = {{Rating|6|10}}{{cite web|url=http://www.popmatters.com/review/oc-smokeandirrors/|title=O.C.: Smoke & Mirrors|work=PopMatters|first=Dave|last=Heaton|date=December 13, 2005|access-date=April 22, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180412213227/https://www.popmatters.com/oc-smokeandirrors-2496019486.html|archive-date=April 12, 2018|url-status=live}}
| rev4 = RapReviews.com
| rev5 = Stylus Magazine
| rev5score = C{{cite web|url=http://stylusmagazine.com/reviews/oc/smoke-and-mirrors.htm|title=O.C. - Smoke and Mirrors|work=Stylus Magazine|first=Dan|last=Nishimoto|date=September 22, 2005|access-date=April 22, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110816171356/http://www.stylusmagazine.com/reviews/oc/smoke-and-mirrors.htm|archive-date=August 16, 2011|url-status=live}}
}}
Jim Durig of IGN wrote, "'My Way' is indicative of the album's lyrical edge, touting that O.C. is 'still tougher than your illest rap adolescent' over a blend of sharp strings and frantic, piercing keys." Dave Heaton of PopMatters commented that "Somehow the most retro songs on the album end up sounding the freshest, proving that maybe O.C. is as complicated as he claims to be."
Track listing
{{Track listing
| all_writing = O. Credle and W.M. Warren, except where noted
| extra_column = Producer(s)
| title1 = Intro: Smoke and Mirrors
| extra1 = Mike Loe
| length1 = 1:03
| title2 = You Made Me
| extra2 = Mike Loe
| length2 = 4:10
| title3 = Martyr
| extra3 = Mike Loe
| length3 = 4:47
| title4 = My Way
| extra4 = Mike Loe
| length4 = 4:13
| title5 = Emotions
| extra5 = Mike Loe
| length5 = 4:04
| title6 = Distortion
| extra6 = Mike Loe
| length6 = 3:12
| title7 = Going Nowhere
| extra7 = Mike Loe
| length7 = 4:13
| title8 = Young World
| extra8 = Mike Loe
| length8 = 2:19
| title9 = Gone
| extra9 = Mike Loe
| length9 = 5:08
| title10 = The Good, the Bad, the Ugly
| extra10 = Mike Loe
| length10 = 3:25
| title11 = Guns and Butter
| extra11 = Mike Loe
| length11 = 3:42
| title12 = I'm da Boss
| writer12 = {{hlist|O. Credle|E. Krasno|A. Deitch}}
| extra12 = Fyre Dept.
| length12 = 3:59
| title13 = Challenge Y'all
| extra13 = Mike Loe
| length13 = 3:58
| title14 = Brother's Keeper
| extra14 = Mike Loe
| length14 = 4:51
| title15 = What I Need
| extra15 = Mike Loe
| length15 = 4:15
| title16 = Shorty
| extra16 = Mike Loe
| length16 = 3:37
| title17 = This Is Me
| extra17 = Mike Loe
| length17 = 4:02
| title18 = Coldwaxa Speaks
| writer18 = Coldwaxa
| extra18 = {{hlist|Mr. Dave|Roc-Steady}}
| length18 = 9:18
| total_length = 76:15
}}
Personnel
Credits adapted from the CD edition's liner notes.
{{Div col}}
- O.C. – vocals
- Mike Loe – production (1–11, 13–17), recording (1–11, 13–17)
- Fyre Dept. – production (12)
- Rashawn Ross – trumpet (12)
- Eric Krasno – guitar (12)
- Eric Coomes – bass guitar (12)
- Adam Deitch – drums (12), keyboards (12)
- Ramon – recording (12), mixing (1–17)
- Mr. Dave – production (18)
- Roc-Steady – production (18)
- Lamonte – recording (18)
- Kasim – mixing (18)
- Craig Salmon – photography
- Jireh Hinton – design
- Sam Wilson – additional design
{{Div col end}}
References
{{Reflist|30em}}
External links
- {{Discogs master|20020|Smoke and Mirrors}}
{{O.C. (rapper)}}
{{Authority control}}