This past weekend the Internet culture showed up and showed out at the Long Beach Convention center in order to celebrate music, art, and most important, rare clothing at ComplexCon 2016. The all-inclusive event allowed consumers to experience some of their favorite things firsthand. The two-day convention boasted some pretty awesome events, and here is the best of ComplexCon 2016.

 

VLONE

There were many winners at ComplexCon—the con’s collaborative Takashi Murakami merch, Nike’s exclusive release of the white Special Force Air Force 1—but few things shined brighter than A$AP Bari’s VLONE label. You couldn’t walk a few feet without seeing the brand’s unmistakable V logo stand out amongst a sea of Supreme box logos, BAPE camo, and Yeezy merch worn by the convention’s attendees.

The line just to enter the raffle for a pair of the VLONE x Nike Air Force 1 sneakers spanned the entire venue’s floor and resulted in the booth being shut down on day one of the convention. That line never diminished, as people spent multiple hours trying to get their hands on some VLONE x Nike T-shirts. Many hopefuls went home empty-handed.

 

The Conversations

Complex hosted a series of panels that gave attendees a chance to catch integral cultural figures speaking candidly on a variety of topics. They included grown men debating sneakers, super-producers discussing their creative process, and even the business of marijuana. Call us biased, but we found this weed talk to be a highlight of the weekend experience—and not just because MERRY JANE editor-in-chief Noah Rubin was part of it.

The panel also featured some infamous stoner celebs, namely rappers Game, Wiz Khalifa, and Action Bronson who joined Rubin and by Dr. Dina. What started out as a pow-wow about the booming marijuana industry and business opportunities quickly turned into everyone recounting their greatest stoner stories. Wiz credited his affinity for weed to Dip Set and Jim Jones smoking on the cover of XXL, Game dished on Dr. Dina’s potent edibles that had him high for five days, and Bronson hopes that the impending legalization of marijuana comes with its use in the culinary arts.

In addition to the irreverent stories, the gang weighed the pros and cons of entering the marijuana industry with recreational legalization in California on the ballot come Election Day.

 

Travis $cott and Kid Cudi

ComplexCon boasted a legendary music lineup with acts celebrating monumental career moments. The event marked Snoop Dogg’s very first live performance in his hometown of Long Beach, and included Kid Cudi’s return to the limelight following a stint in rehab.

The audience showed an overwhelming outpouring of love for Cudi, and he reveled in the vibe. But the star of ComplexCon’s music performances had to be Travis $cott. Dude had the crowd losing its shit from the ground floor to the seats in the upper level. $cott’s star power can be attributed to his wildly entertaining and rage-inducing sets.

 

Running Into Your Favorite Celebrities

The beauty of an event like this is that you never know who you’re gonna see. Some of the biggest names in music, fashion, and social media lore were casually strolling and checking out the brand booths and art installations. Celebrities hunger for culture, too. They’re just like us.

 

The Rare Gear

ComplexCon offered fans an opportunity to purchase items that won’t be available anywhere else—ever. These are the type of releases that resulted in snaking lines and incredible hype. The biggest items up for grabs included BAPE tees that pictured Travis $cott, Kid Cudi, and Big Sean in the Baby Milo likeness, an Anti-Social Social Club x Undefeated collaboration, VLONE’s Nike collaboration, and the Nike Special Field Air Force 1.

While those drops were shrouded in hype, there were also convention-exclusive releases from brands that are on the cusp of the hype train. See Rare Panther x Carrots by Anwar Carrots, RSVP Gallery airbrush T-shirts, and much more.

If you search for these items on eBay, the re-sale prices will make you cry harder than a Jordan meme.

 

The Culture Is Real

If ComplexCon proved anything this weekend, it’s that this culture is a force to be reckoned with. The convention was packed to the brim with people ready to spend their hard-earned cash on what exhibitors had to offer. It also proved that when music, fashion, and art are properly meshed together it creates a unique experience unlike anything seen before.