Bartram Nason

Down In Tha Dirty

On Set with Director John D. Tucker

An assignment for XXL magazine, this photo essay ran with a story about a new generation of hip-hop music video directors.

I followed director John D. Tucker, also known as Dr. Teeth, during the production of Ludacris's "Down In Tha Dirty" music video at a soundstage outside of Atlanta, GA.

Rapper Bun B standing in front of a green screen while filming a music video, with the camera and assistant camera operator out of focus in the foreground.
Rapper Bun B standing in front of a green screen while filming a music video, with the camera and assistant camera operator out of focus in the foreground.Director Dr. Teeth stands with cinematographer while looking at a video screen showing rapper Ludacris on a green screen while filming a music videoA wide angle view of the set of the music video "Down In Tha Dirty". The cast and crew is working on a white cyclorama wall with tattered craft paper taped to the floor. There are various lights and tools for filmmaking scatter around the studio.Director Dr. Teeth points to his eyes to demonstrate a move to Ludacris and his manager Chaka Zulu on the set of the "Down In Tha Dirty" music video. There is a white wall with a screen screen to the right.A movie camera on a dolly is focused on a closeup of rapper Bun B, with the crew standing around the camera.Dozens of fake $100 bills used as movie props, spread out covering the entire image frame. Some of the bills are stained.Director Dr. Teeth sitting in a directors chair on the set of a music video, circled around a video monitor with other crew and talent. The floor is covered with torn craft paper.Close up of director Dr. Teeth's hands clasped together with a movie camera out of focus in the background.Director Dr. Teeth smiling and chewing gum with the industrial walls and framing of a movie studio behind him.Rapper Rick Ross wearing black shirt, gold chain and dark mirrored sunglasses, speaking to a video camera partially out of frame.Rappers Ludacris, Bun B and Rick Ross performing on a white featureless background while a movie camera on a dolly rolls towards them.Director Dr. Teeth standing next to rapper Bun B sitting emotionless in a red velvet chair with gold trim. Dr. Teeth is holding a digital camera showing Bun B a picture.t cast and crew of a music videow with an concerned look. In the background are camera operators, sound engineers, and other crew members.Film crew gathered around a movie camera on a dolly looking at a monitor. The camera is pointed at rapper Bun B sitting in a red velvet chair with gold trim with a plastic crown perched on top.Director Dr. Teeth with arms crossed looking at movie camera in the foregroundDirector Dr. Teeth sitting in red velvet chair with gold trim, looking tired, holding a can of film in his hand on his knee.