“Giving Up The Gun” is technically an update of Ezra Koenig’s 2004 “Giving Up Da Gun” by L'Homme Run, a comedic rap duo that Koenig created during while attending Columbia University.

In an interview with NME, Koenig talked about the idea for the song:

“I got the idea for the song from a book my Dad gave me called Giving Up The Gun. It’s a history book about the time when Japan expelled all the foreigners from the country, closed off all trade, and stopped using guns and reverted back to the sword. It seems unimaginable now that humanity could willingly go back to an older technology. It got me thinking about whether you could give up the things that you have and go back to a simpler way of life.

The music video features Wu-Tang Clan producer RZA, famed actor Jake Gyllenhaal, Jonas Brothers member Joe Jonas, and crunk star Lil Jon.