ComplexCon 2024 in Las Vegas: Diving into the Cultural Phenomenon
Las Vegas, NV - ComplexCon 2024, a Gen-Z melting pot that blends music, fashion, art, and technology, descended upon the vibrant city of Las Vegas this year. Held at the massive Las Vegas Convention Center - where you’re guaranteed to get your 10,000 steps within the first hour.
Rapstars and Industry Icons
With headliners like Travis Scott, Playboi Carti, and Metro Boomin, the college-aged crowd sprawled out in a seemingly endless line that snaked throughout the convention hallways.
Other notable acts that blessed the stage included Gunna, Big Sean, Lil Yachty, Nam, Quinn Blake, and Uncle Waffles. If you didn’t make the event and don’t recognize any of those names, this event probably wasn’t for you anyway.
When Worlds Collide
Beyond the music, ComplexCon 2024 offered a swath of experiences for attendees. Converging art, fashion, and technology to show the cool kids what’s going to be cool.
Brand Drops and Collabs: The festival was a haven for sneakerheads and fashion enthusiasts, with exclusive drops and collaborations from renowned brands like Nike, Adidas, and Bape. Attendees lined up for days to get their hands on limited-edition sneakers, apparel, and accessories.
Ohana Hatake Full Bloom
Immersive Art Installations: ComplexCon 2024 showcased a variety of visually stunning art installations, from large-scale murals to interactive experiences. Artists from around the world exhibited their work, pushing the boundaries of creativity and inspiring attendees. And they came with a price tag. The sculpture below will set you back a solid six-figures.
“Dinner” by YanRan Chen
Interactive Activations: Brands brought artists and consumers together to join in experiences, from gaming competitions to virtual reality showcases. And there were a lot of basketball hoops.
The Curatorial Vision: Travis Scott, the creative director of this year's event, curated a unique vision that blended high-energy performances with immersive art installations and cactus logos. I don’t know why he hasn’t with Cactus Cooler - the kids don’t know what they’re missing out on.
Some giant robot monster
Admittedly I didn’t attend any panels, any shows, or even play basketball. Anything with a line was disregarded. And there were a lot of lines, which says something. Obviously, there was a ton of cool stuff to explore, experience, and engage in. I am just no the one. That’s what you get for throwing an introverted geriatric millennial into a hypebeast event full of broccoli cuts and baggy pants.
Yes there were very cool people there. My presence probably raised the temperature a bit. I walked past 2 Chainz, and bumped into a hip-hip reporter I used to work with - she was chasing after 2 Chainz (she didn’t know who I was, and was vexed that I said hello, even though I gave her some very insightful social media advice at one time).
Brands That Stole the Show
Nike
I should have taken a photo of the monstrosity Nike booth. There was a line, so I dodn’t go in. But it just shows that as a brand, no matter how on top of the world you may be, you must remain vigilant and cutting edge. Whatever Nike did was cool. Not by my experience but by my observation that others were willing to wait forever to get inside. I’m sure there were some celebrities on a panel.
Cactus Jack
The Travis Scott-helmed brand was one of the main attractions, complete with lines that wrapped around the block. From exclusive merch drops to surrealist set pieces, the experience was one part art gallery, one part hype machine. Learn more at Cactus Jack.
Carrots by Anwar Carrots
This brand leaned into bold colors and playful, veggie-inspired designs. The line for exclusive pieces stretched endlessly, proving that Anwar Carrots has firmly established himself as a must-watch designer. Check them out at Carrots.
Anti Social Social Club
What would a streetwear convention be without ASSC? Their display had the signature blend of irony and chaos, and the merch drop? Gone in seconds. Visit Anti Social Social Club for a taste.
Takashi Murakami
Murakami’s booth was a visual feast, blending art and commerce with vibrant, larger-than-life designs. Prints, apparel, and collaborations flew off the shelves, and it felt like walking through a contemporary art museum. More at Takashi Murakami.
Where I Really Messed Up
I didn’t know that there was a whole food section until I went home later and doomscrolled on social media only to see all the influencers I know posting about ComplexCon and the Food Section. It broke my heart. When I needed some sustenance to curb my sensory overload, I went to the Convention Center Food Court, and listen to me when I say, I don’t recommend it. This is your typical Vegas taking advantage of visitors with overpriced mediocrity. My Temu ripoff of a Chipotle bowl cost me $20 and was a bowl full of flavorless disappointment.
Why didn’t anyone tell me that there was food outside? They did. I went with Hunni to this event and it was the first thing she told me. And I totally brushed it off saying it was probably a street vendor. No, it was STREET VENDORS. A whole squad of tents and foods from smash burgers to anything and everything better than the dog food I sampled inside.
So yeah, I f*d up again.
TLDR
I had AI write something up to conclude this whole thing but there is no flavor with ChatGPT. So I’ll sum it up for you. ComplexCon is an event where cool people are going to show you what’s cool. And some cool people will tell you how they became cool. And cool brands are going to spend tons of money to remain cool.
If you’re into hip-hop, streetwear, urban culture, interesting art, other music, cutting-edge brands, branding, style, fashion, memes, weed, energy drinks, basketball, smash burgers, influencers, celebrities, the next wave of cool…ComplexCon is for you.
