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.
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.
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.
Rapper Rick Ross wearing black shirt, gold chain and dark mirrored sunglasses, speaking to a video camera partially out of frame.
t cast and crew of a music videow with an concerned look. In the background are camera operators, sound engineers, and other crew members.
Director Dr. Teeth sitting in red velvet chair with gold trim, looking tired, holding a can of film in his hand on his knee.
Director Dr. Teeth stands with cinematographer while looking at a video screen showing rapper Ludacris on a green screen while filming a music video
A movie camera on a dolly is focused on a closeup of rapper Bun B, with the crew standing around the camera.
Close up of director Dr. Teeth's hands clasped together with a movie camera out of focus in the background.
Rappers Ludacris, Bun B and Rick Ross performing on a white featureless background while a movie camera on a dolly rolls towards them.
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.
A 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.
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 smiling and chewing gum with the industrial walls and framing of a movie studio behind him.
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.
Director Dr. Teeth with arms crossed looking at movie camera in the foreground