Chicago Ideas - Music Vs. Gun Violence: "#PutTheGunsDown"

This year, shootings in Chicago have broken records with more than 2,300 incidents to date, exceeding those in New York and Los Angeles combined. Chicago Ideas debuted “Music Vs Gun Violence,” a campaign by Leo Burnett Chicago, at MusicVsGunViolence.com. It’s a social movement that aims to prevent gun violence through music. Music can often be blamed for glorifying or inciting gun violence, but can it inspire people to put the guns down? With this question, Music Vs Gun Violence was born, featuring “Put the Guns Down,” an interactive music video that includes a string of performances from some of Chicago’s best-known hip-hop and rap artists. To reach the people most affected by Chicago’s gun violence, Chicago Ideas’ advertising partner Leo Burnett enlisted the help of some of the biggest names in Chicago’s hip hop and rap communities such as Common, King Louis an Lil Herb. People will have the opportunity to join the movement by lending their own anti-gun violence lyrics to the music video. With each new submission, the video and support for the initiative grows. Show your support by adding a verse to the video at MusicVsGunViolence.com, and join the discussion using #PutTheGunsDown.