Editor's note: This story is part of Southwest Michigan Second Wave's On the Ground Battle Creek series.

BATTLE CREEK, MI — History will be made on July 26 when a lineup of all-African American musicians takes the stage at Kellogg Arena to perform in the “Battle Creek vs. Everybody” concert orchestrated by R.I.S.E. Corp.

Headliners include Babyfxce E, a rapper and hip hop artist from Flint who has signed with Atlantic Records; SBE, a Battle Creek-based group; and Jazmine Renae, star of “Baddies” and host for the evening, says Damon Brown, President and Founder of R.I.S.E.

CourtesyBabyfxce E, a rapper and hip hop artist from Flint who has signed with Atlantic Records, will be performing at the "Battle Creek vs Everybody" concert.“We have older artists who haven’t performed in eight or 10 years for different reasons, some of whom are coming out of retirement to do this concert,” Brown says. “Something like this has never been done with local talent. That’s why it’s called 'Battle Creek vs. Everybody.' It’s a way of unifying. It’s not us against anyone, it’s us unifying as a city.”

Thirteen of the 14 artists scheduled to perform are from Battle Creek. Their appearances are part of R.I.S.E. Corp. Community-based Violence Intervention (CVI) work funded through a $250,000 grant from the W.K. Kellogg Foundation (WKKF).

Brown says the concert, which is free and open to everyone in the community, has a goal to bring the community together and push for peace. In addition to the musical performances, there will be vendor booths, merch, and sponsor tables supporting the ongoing work of local organizations.

Pastor John Boyd will also attend to pray over the audience.

Doors open at 5:30 p.m. The event is scheduled from 6-9 p.m. While it’s billed as family-friendly, Brown says he wants parents to know that some of the music will contain profanity.

CourtesyAlaysi Tmg will perform at the "Battle Creek vs. Everybody" concert on July 26.The music, he says, will be used to reclaim public spaces and interrupt cycles of violence.

“At the end of the day, we think this is what CVI represents, building real safety from the ground up,” he says. “This is where healing meets music and peace takes the stage.”

Plans for the concert began about three months ago after leadership with R.I.S.E. I was tired of seeing the different cycles of violence happening in Battle Creek. At 47 years old, Brown says he’s seen a lot of different generations experience trauma.

“Battle Creek has been traumatized and I’ve yet to see any healing or togetherness,” he says. “I began asking myself, 'What’s a good way to bring people together?”

“This needs to be done,” Brown says of the concert.

On July 9, a 31-year-old man suffered a fatal gunshot wound at the hands of a 36-year-old man who was known to him, according to Battle Creek City Police.

“I just don’t want all of these years where people keep getting killed,” Brown says
In 2024, there were five homicides in Battle Creek, according to the FBI. This information is based on the FBI's Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) data for 2024. 
The victim in one of these homicides was Tyshaan Williams, a 21-year-old who was found dead in Teal Run Apartments on May 25, 2024.

CourtesyBig Telly will perform at the "Battle Creek vs. Everybody" concert on July 26.Williams' death came after an early morning shooting in Battle Creek in January 2024 that killed Israel Temple, age 24, and the death of Chase Damiel Perkins, age 25, in March 2024, who was shot at a trailer park in Calhoun County, according to the National Gun Violence Memorial.

Brown says he wants to see more positive and safe opportunities for young people in Battle Creek to engage in as a way to break the cycle of violence within that particular demographic.

At its core, R.I.S.E. works on advancing health equity; dismantling the school-to-prison pipeline; supporting trauma-informed recovery; and creating sustainable solutions through community-based leadership.

CourtesyMarco2tymes will perform at the "Battle Creek vs. Everybody" concert on July 26.Brown says the concert is about more than just “putting on a show. This is about reclaiming our story, showing love to our city, and building unity across every generation. It’s a movement rooted in unity, healing, and peace — using the universal language of music to bring people together and shift the narrative for Battle Creek.”

For too long, he says, “The city has been weighed down by division, violence, and misunderstanding. Battle Creek vs Everybody is a response — a declaration that we can rise above the negativity and rebuild, together.”