Snoop Dogg and MC Hammer Want to Stop Gun Violence

US rapper Snoop Dogg has spoken out against gun violence in the wake of the Elliot Rodget shootings, which claimed six lives and injured several people.

The 42-year-old hip hop star, real name is Calvin Broadus, was joined by MC Hammer and football legend Joe Montana at an event to raise awareness of his 'No Guns Allowed' campaign.

Addressing the crowd at the news conference in San Francisco, he said it was the hip hop community's duty to warn young people to stay away from firearms.

"We are the voices that the youth listen to," Snoop said. "They respect us, so we are the ones who actually can put a half pause on the gun violence when we speak as one, as a whole rap community."

He added: "I feel like the rappers rapping about gun violence has definitely depreciated. It's gone down but we don't have an effect on the laws."

The Drop It Like It's Hot hitmaker's 'No Guns Allowed' campaign was established in 2013, following the Sandy Hook Massacre and the rapper's conversion to Rastafarianism.

It aims to pressure lawmakers to pass common-sense gun laws, including mandatory background checks.

"If you look at the past 20 years, it's not rappers who are dying in the streets, it's the community around rappers," MC Hammer said.

"At this point, we can divide entertainment and music from reality. The reality is we need more men and women to stand up and say enough is enough."

Snoop Dogg previously recorded a song and music video to go along with his campaign featuring his daughter, Cori B, and rapper Drake.

On 23 May, Elliot Rodger, the son of The Hunger Games assistant director Peter Rodger, shot and knifed six people dead in Santa Barbara before killing himself.

Before the rampage the 20-year-old student posted violent threats in online videos claiming he would seek revenge for being rejected by women.