i've removed some water spots off my obsidian is with scratch-x 2.0 and my mf pad came out a little dirty. can i safely assume that it's actual dirt and not paint?

Wasn't Obsidian one of the colors without clear coat? That would make it single stage if that were the case. Assuming that it IS single stage and you clayed the car prior to polishing, then you're just pulling off some paint. The other option is that you did not clay your car before and the contaminants are on the pad right now lol

ouu yea i didn't clay before. obsidian didn't have a clear coat? what would be the reason for that?

actually, i think you're right, something about solid colors not requiring a clear coat?

^^some don't have clears. I don't know much about OB but I believe Jay's car is OB but his is an older GS so who knows...

What year is your car??
I know Onyx Black had no clear until mid year 2000
but 212 (Obsidian) has a clear I belive. The reason that Lexus did not clear the plain blacks so the pain appeared darker/ and bolder..I believe RR and Bentley does the same

i have an 09 obsidian. now i'm kinda confused because i feel like i'm scrubbin for the fences, but when i'm done the paint is still really glossy.

lets say there is no clear, is the paint mixed in with some sort of gloss enamel so it stays glossy no matter what? if there is a clear, then is the dirt from the water spots?

it seems that the more and more i do it, the more and more it comes off, but i just don't want to over do it. this has got to be the biggest headache lol

You do have clear..My friend's LS460 does have a clear...