10 Songs Against Gun Violence

Music that increases the peace.

Assault Weapons Ban - This legislation bans the sale, transfer, manufacturing and importation of all semi-automatic rifles, pistols and handguns that accept a detachable magazine, have at least one military feature or have a fixed magazine that accepts more than 10 rounds. It excludes such weapons lawfully possessed before this measure is passed and protects certain hunting and sporting rifles and shotguns.   (Photo: Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

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10 Songs Against Gun Violence - In light of the deadly massacre in Sandy Hook, Connecticut, some critics are once again pointing the finger at popular culture, including music, for glorifying guns and violence. But that doesn't take the whole picture into account. Many songs — yes, even rap songs — have spoken out strongly against gun violence. Here, BET.com lists 10 songs that increase the peace.  (Photo: Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

"Rewind" - Nas told the story of a murder in the 'hood backwards on his track "Rewind" from Stillmatic. It would have been ill seeing a visual with the story being told from ending to beginning, too. (Photo: Kevin Winter/Getty Images)

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Nas, "I Gave You Power" - Over a tense string-and-piano DJ Premier beat, Nas rhymed from the perspective of a gun on this standout from his 1996 album It Was Written, personifying the thing that "moves crowds, making every ghetto foul" and lamenting the bloodshed it causes.   (Photo: Kevin Winter/Getty Images)

Photo By Kevin Winter/Getty Images

Organized Konfusion, "Stray Bullet" - Nas' "I Gave You Power" was preceded two years earlier by "Stray Bullet" from Organized Konfusion, which featured the acclaimed but overlooked Queens duo rhyming from the point of a view of a deadly stray bullet.    (Photo: Organized Konfusion/Facebook)

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Organized Konfusion, "Stray Bullet" - Nas' "I Gave You Power" was preceded two years earlier by "Stray Bullet" from Organized Konfusion, which featured the acclaimed but overlooked Queens duo rhyming from the point of a view of a deadly stray bullet.    (Photo: Organized Konfusion/Facebook)

Gang Starr, "Tonz 'O' Gunz" - Gang Starr lamented the ubiquity of guns on this banger from their 1994 album Hard to Earn. "Tons o' gunz real easy to get, tons o' gunz bringing nothing but death," Guru monotoned. (Photo: Courtesy Virgin Records)

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Gang Starr, "Tonz 'O' Gunz" - Gang Starr lamented the ubiquity of guns on this banger from their 1994 album Hard to Earn. "Tons o' gunz real easy to get, tons o' gunz bringing nothing but death," Guru monotoned. (Photo: Courtesy Virgin Records)

RZA, "Put Your Guns Down" - "We got six year old sons knowin’ how to use a gun. They would shoot and don't think about it, won't even blink about it," RZA, aka Bobby Digital, raps on this song from his 2008 album Digi Snacks.  (Photo: Astrid Stawiarz/Getty Images)

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RZA, "Put Your Guns Down" - "We got six year old sons knowin’ how to use a gun. They would shoot and don't think about it, won't even blink about it," RZA, aka Bobby Digital, raps on this song from his 2008 album Digi Snacks.  (Photo: Astrid Stawiarz/Getty Images)

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Lupe Fiasco, "Kids With Guns" - On this overlooked mixtape freestyle, Lupe Fiasco rhymed over the Gorillaz song of the same name to explain how and why young people all over the world, from the Middle East to Columbine, get and use guns.    (Photo: Kevin Winter/Getty Images)

Stop the Violence Movement, "Self-Destruction" - After two fatal shooting incidents — one of a fan at a Boogie Down Productions and Public Enemy concert and another that took the life of BDP member Scott La Rock — KRS-One formed the Stop the Violence Movement in 1989. He recruited Stetsasonic, Kool Moe Dee, MC Lyte, Doug E. Fresh, Just-Ice, Heavy D and Public Enemy to record the single "Self-Destruction," which called out black-on-black crime and gun violence.  (Photo: Jive Records)

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Stop the Violence Movement, "Self-Destruction" - After two fatal shooting incidents — one of a fan at a Boogie Down Productions and Public Enemy concert and another that took the life of BDP member Scott La Rock — KRS-One formed the Stop the Violence Movement in 1989. He recruited Stetsasonic, Kool Moe Dee, MC Lyte, Doug E. Fresh, Just-Ice, Heavy D and Public Enemy to record the single "Self-Destruction," which called out black-on-black crime and gun violence.  (Photo: Jive Records)

Stevie Wonder, "My Love Is With You" - Stevie Wonder sings from the perspective of victims of gun violence on this uptempo 1995 song, which ends with the chant "Ban the handgun."  (Photo: Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

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Stevie Wonder, "My Love Is With You" - Stevie Wonder sings from the perspective of victims of gun violence on this uptempo 1995 song, which ends with the chant "Ban the handgun."  (Photo: Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

Is WTT II Still On? - Besides Jay missing 'Ye's wedding, hints that their relationship has soured resurfaced on June 7 when Kanye omitted Jay's name from songs he performed at the X Games in Austin, Texas. But what about Watch the Throne II? It was all good just a few years ago, when the duo had people from New York to France rapping along to "N---s in Paris." Hov even mentioned that he and Kanye have spoken about a WTT sequel. Is the unspoken tension in the air real, or can fans still look forward to another classic collabo from the two hip hop greats?(Photo: Jason Squires/WireImage)

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Jay-Z & Kanye West, "Murder to Excellence" - This emotional song from Watch the Throne mourns lives lost in black-on-black gun violence. "I feel the pain in my city wherever I go, 314 soldiers died in Iraq, 509 died in Chicago," Kanye West raps.

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Rhymefest, "Pull Me Back" - In response to the gun crime gripping his hometown, Rhymefest recruited several Chicago rappers for anti-violence mixtape The Pledge, led off by his song "Pulls Me Back," which mourns "shorties flatlined laying flat down."  (Photo: John Ricard / Retna Ltd.)

Buju Banton - Early in his career, Buju Banton became widely known for "Boom Bye Bye," an anti-gay song that advocated violence. However, as his career progressed, some of his ideas did, as well. For instance, in 2003 he dropped "Mr. Nine," which was an anti-gun song. (Photo: Scott Eells/Getty Images)

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Buju Banton, "Nah Live Too Right" - Before he was locked up for drug charges, Buju delivered this beautiful anti-gun anthem, also called "Mr. Nine," on his 2003 album Friends for Life. "German Luger too hype, AK make nuff youth lose dem life," he sings.   (Photo: Scott Eells/Getty Images)