Major Lazer is a Jamaican commando who lost his arm in the secret Zombie War of 1984. The US military rescued him and repurposed experimental lazers as prosthetic limbs. Since then Major Lazer has been a hired renegade soldier for a rogue government operating in secrecy underneath the watch of M5 and the CIA. His cover is that of a dancehall night club owner from Trinidad and he enlisted the help of long-time allies and uber-producers, Diplo and Switch, to produce his first LP. His true mission is to protect the world from the dark forces of evil that live just under the surface of a civilized society. He fights vampires and various monsters, parties hard, and has a rocket powered skateboard.

Their album, Guns Don't Kill People...Lazers Do, was recorded in Jamaica at Tuff Gong Studios. Vocalists Santigold, Vybz Cartel, Ward 21, Busy Signal, Nina Sky, Mr. Lexx, Amanda Blank, Ms. Thing, Mr. Vegas, Jovi Rockwell, Future Trouble, Turbulence, Jah Dan, Mr. Evil, Mapei, T.O.K, Einstein, Ricky Blaze, Prince Zimboo, Leftside & Sugahype contribute guest vocals to the album, as well as additional production from Afro Jack and Crookers.