Pack your bags, people. Today, James Reitano takes us down to the dirty south with his rump-shaking short Miami Man.

A little over a year ago, we featured James Reitano’s brilliant music video for Cut Chemist’s single Spat. He’s now joining us for a Radiohead/Aniboom Contest interview.

AARON SIMPSON: How did you “pitch” the concept of the Spat video to Luke MacFadden, otherwise known as Cut Chemist?

JAMES REITANO: I actually wanted to make an educational video with Jurassic 5, kind of a Schoolhouse Rap thing. Luke had seen the All Caps video, and wanted one for his upcoming solo record. After a failed start in early 2005, we revived the idea in spring of ‘06, and got it going.

AARON: How did this string of animated music videos all come about?

JAMES: I think I fell into it by accident. KutMasta Kurt talked me into doing an animated video for his Masters Of Illusion LP with Kool Keith. I had never taken on 3 minutes of animation before, so I was hesitant. Kurt kept assuring me that it was doable and we wrapped it up in 2 months, and the reception was really good. From there, Biz Markie asked for one, and, the ball just got rolling. And I also have a deep love for music, so it’s kind of not too surprising that I’d be involved in one way or another.
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James Reitano knows a thing or two about hip hop music videos. He’s worked with some of the kings including Madlib, Danger Mouse, MF DOOM, Biz Markie, Quasimoto and KutMasta Kurt, and along the way he threw in the seminal punk band The Dickies, just for good measure.

But now, on the heels of his brilliant ALLCAPS video for Madvillian, Reitano delivers perhaps his best work to date. Leaning on styles from the 70s, James animates what you can hear any night in hip hop clubs around the world - a conversation between two turntables. The song is from Cut Chemist’s latest album The Audience’s Listening and the song is titled Spat.

Reitano and Cut Chemist actually began this video a couple years back, but other projects delayed their collaboration. If you pay attention, you’ll see the characters disagree (the spat), then make-up and eventually hit a perfect harmony through to the end. After the video plays, sit tight for a screening of Reitano’s animatic.

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Reitano’s previous project, ALLCAPS, was the focus of a Channel Frederator interview.

Mad Villain - ALLCAPS

And a few other notable videos he’s produced through the years…

Quasimoto - Bullyshit

DANGERDOOM - Aqua Teen Hunger Force

The Dickies - Donut Man