D. Tucker's Music Blog

The journey of D. Tucker, Miami, Florida's alternative hip-hop sensation musician.

YachtLife, 

Making a music video is a lot like sex. There’s a bunch of ways to make do it, and some people are just better at it than others.

There’s the “bring her back home and rail her all night long style,” where you figuratively rape the viewer’s eyes with epic shot after epic shot. Then add explosions and special effects and gratuitous violence for fun. And helicopters while you’re at it.

Then there’s the “traditional missionary” approach. I guess this one could summarize the more generic videos we’re used to seeing, especially with rap. Rapper in front of a mansion. In front of some flashy cars. Throwing some money at some video honeys. But for all the sex and near-nudity, just like doing it missionary, it gets old and no one really gets off on it (unless you’re Rick Santorum, then it’s all you know).

And then there’s a bunch of other approaches, but trying to cover them all would be an exercise in futility. Mainly because I think everyone has their own unique style, kinda like everyone has a way that they like to fuck. And even then, how we do things can change over time or daily nightly (again, unless you’re Rick Santorum).

So what am I going to share with you? I’m going to tell you how making D. Tucker’s first video (Love It Hate It) was like an awkward time in bed with that hot red head from work you’ve imagined nailing in the backroom dozens of times, but never actually thought you’d get a chance. You see, I had shot a few music videos before, but until then none of them had been for real hip hop songs. Add to that that I was in an awkward stage in my life, and you have the recipe for an interesting love affair.

Tucker first approached me to shoot his video after meeting him on a shoot he did. I was shooting BTS footage.  I had a lot on my plate, and I was also going through one of my lowest points in passion for film within the past 4 years (with the last one having been freshmen year, because well, I think that one’s self explanatory). So I went into it wanting to shoot the video, but hesitant and nervous and not really sure what I was doing. Sounds a lot like your first time huh? So there I am, coming up with the first few shots, trying to sound sure of myself, like I know exactly what I’m doing. I didn’t. I did a little, but knowing how to properly expose and compose a shot can only take you so far.

So there I am, just trying to really get a feel for the song and the video and our vision for it. After the first few shots, some random lens flares (I fucking love lens flares, ok?) gave me a couple shots I really liked and I started getting more comfortable. I realized I didn’t need everything planned out if I just went with my gut feeling. All I had to do, I realized, was stay true to the feel (vibe, emotions, whatever you wanna call it) of the song. Stay true to the music and to the message. Here’s a confession. We basically came up with all the shots for “Love it, Hate it” that same day. On the spot.

So, it was kind of like that first time with that girl you liked. You kinda knew the basics of what you were doing, but you didn’t really know what you were doing. You didn’t know what would turn her on. But after the initial awkward moments, you started getting a feeling for it. You can tell what she likes by the way she bites her lower lip. Or by the way she digs her nails into your back. And when you really start getting the hang of it, by the way she yells “Oh my God! Don’t stop! Don’t ever stop! If you stop I will murder you right here and now!” (Although if she yells that she may be crazy).

And there you have it. Now the next video won’t be like that coming-of-age story. Because I’ve already shot a D. Tucker video. So I know how to approach it. But I also know how to make it better than last time. Like everything in life, you learn from the first time and build on it. The music has gotten better, and so have my abilities as a cinematographer. So keep a look out, because it’s only getting better from here on out.

Discarding pre-production, production and posting production, the core of a making a good music video is to enjoy yourself, explore the vibe of the song in order to portray, be persistent and cherish your outcome.

Females (and serious inquiries) can find me on Twitter @ernieprieto

I’m introducing to you an amazing / beautiful lady friend of mine, with a voice to match, from Dubai, Stephanie Farah. To back up everything I said within Stephanie’s introduction I’d like you to take a “view-minutes” to watch / listen to Rihanna’s Rude Boy, sung by Stephanie Farah. (The video is above.)

An off beat story about Stephanie and I: Stephanie was a mutual friend of a girl I went to high-school with in the Bahamas. We met on a trip to the Atlantis hotel with two friends of mine for a visit to a night club. We had no idea either did anything music related until a few weeks after at random. She sent me her YouTube channel (youtube.com/StephanieFarah2) to listen to her sing and I sent her my SGIOV2 mixtape; a few hours later we made an amazing track together (not released as of yet but be on the listen out for it!)

Stephanie is a lady keeping it YachtLife to the fullest by going after her dreams! I could sit here and write to you forever on her amazing characteristics and how much I respect her hustle and dedication to her craft. Stephanie was blessed with a voice that will definitely make some beautiful noise around the music industry because of her hard work to develop her gift; be on the listen out for her!

Until next time,

D. Tucker | YachtLife