Rappers unite against gun violence in USA

Following news the USA has had 264 shootings in 274 days, Common, Lil Herb, King Louie and other Chicago rappers have come together for a  "Music vs. Gun Violence" campaign.

In an interactive music video, the rappers ask their city to Put the Guns Down, and the public are invited to add their own verses and their own stories on the website or with the hashtag #PutTheGunsDown.

Chicago alone has exceeded 2300 gun-related crimes so far this year, and the clip opens with a blurb which says "In Chicago, someone is shot every three hours".

The clip also features Anthony "The Twilite Tone" Khan, Katie Got Bandz, Saba, Tree, Noname Gypsy, Treated Crew's Mic Terror and Nick Jr.

In the stories shared on the site, artist Saba says he's been aware of gun violence since he was 8 or 9 – "it was kind of normal...I didn't realise it was a bad thing".

"Sometimes it feels like your life is already decided for you, before you even enter the world. It's kind of like, we're poor and we live in this neighbourhood, and this is what happens in this neighbourhood. So we're kind of just another number," he says.

"It's kind of like, just a paranoia that exists...where it's like, you never know what could happen. It's just too normal, hearing a gunshot."

When asked how gun violence affected him, artist Nick Jr answers, "pain". 

"You gotta go to funerals. Being with somebody one day and the next day that person that was beside you is not there. It affects how you eat, how you sleep - paranoia," he says.

"I think music does have the power to change gun violence. If they hear the artists they look up to talking about dropping the guns...they think, maybe he's right. Music changes people's feelings."

This isn't the first time celebrities have rallied against gun violence. A host of Hollywood A-listers banded together in 2012 after Treyvon Martin was killed, to create a video saying enough is enough.

Beyonce, Will Ferrell, John Legend, Ellen DeGeneres, Chris Rock, Cameron Diaz and dozens more created a PSA for Demand A Plan – urging government action.

See the full video here: