Some more gems from Complex Con

Complex Con 18 Recap Sizzle Reel (via @Complex)

Talk about stimulation overload. Complex Con had it all last weekend in Long Beach and as a first-timer, I was simply blown away by the creativity, art, and fashion all on display. In fact, it took me a full week just to sift through everything and continue to reflect about the positive impact and community throughout the two days. Here’s just some of many highlights.

For those unaware, Complex Con is basically the hotbed marketplace for the hip hop culture. Users are first treated to an endless space of brand activations from the biggest names in streetwear and your favorite sneaker companies – all trying to outdo one another.

Around the convention center is a full stage and venue for music performances, an outdoor area for the best LA food trucks and pop-up spots, and my personal favorite: auditoriums for #ComplexConversations — where Complex conducted panel discussions and showcased their original programming (from Hot Ones to Real Late with Peter Rosenberg).

The conversations ranged from Sneaker of the Year to an analysis and communal endeavor to improve upon society’s ills today. All of it inspiring, especially the latter if you can imagine. Here’s a succinct example via the young jedi Jaden Smith:

One more #ComplexCon gem that simply has to be shared and shared.

You are a limitless creator.

💎 @officialjaden pic.twitter.com/hiBMuxurUr

— Gowhere Hip Hop (@gowherehiphop) November 12, 2018

Skim below for some more #content. I had some fun creating a couple Insta Stories for each day.

Day 1 features some snaps of the Complex Con scene, Takashi x OVO, the Sneaker of the Year Panel with Allen Iverson, and even yours truly and Maksim Presence (peep that Gary Vee interview!)

…and Day 2 features a bunch of celebrity cameos (everyone from Nas to Karreuche to Dennis Rodman) and concludes with some more gems from Jaden Smith.

DAY 1:

DAY 2:

And now for some photos! All of the below is via @Complex.

Complex Con 2018 Host: Takashi Murakami

 

‘Women Behind The Lens’ #ComplexConversations with Issa Rae, Lena Waithe, Karena Evans, Nadeska Alexis, Yara Shahidi, hosted by: Jemele Hill

 

The Cadillac Experience My personal favorite. That grid moved. 👀

 

adidas

 

Pusha T @ adidas

 

Ty Dolla $ign @ Puma

 

Future headlines Day 2

 

First We Feast Lagoon

 

Complex Art Experience

 

@MichaelPurdie dunks at the And-1 court

* * * *

Let’s conclude this with The Answer. Complex posted this fascinating sit-down interview for 24 minutes as A.I. shares stories with Michael Jordan, Biggie, and how he even came up with some fashion and sneaker trends.

Thank you Complex Con! We’ll be back again next year. 🙏

Nas narrates US Open ESPN commercial

The US Open begins on Monday and leading up to the last major of the year, and the lone major America hosts, we have none other than Nas adding his New York flavor to the ESPN promo.

Of course, the US Open takes place in Flushing and so his voice is the perfect fit for this wonderful capture of the everyday man and woman playing tennis in NYC. This year’s major is not without its captivating storylines in both the Men’s and Women’s draw.

Will Novak Djokovic get his 3rd major with contenders like Roger Federer (who beat him this past week in Cincinnati), French Open champ Stan Wawrinka, Andy Murray, and Rafa Nadal (who he could play in the quarters) all lurking. And bigger than that: can Serena Williams cap off her Serena Slam and solidify herself as a top choice as greatest women’s athlete of all time? (And will Drake be there?! Haha.) I’ll be watching and Nas just gets me more amped for it.

Run The Jewels, Nas, & Zack de la Rocha in the studio

This happened. Says El-P himself on IG last night of a studio session, whose final product we’re definitely anticipating. Stay tuned.

https://instagram.com/p/6wfXIXNrOK/

Drake & Nas Sprite commercial

Premiered during tonight’s NBA Finals, here’s Drake and Nas’ new Sprite commercial with some footage of the 2 on stage together from their secret show a lil bit ago in New York, I believe.

The coolest thing about this lyrical collection is the actual lyrics on the Sprite cans. How powerful is “Know yourself, know your worth” for instance? ❤

Here’s the full list of Drake, Nas, B.I.G., and Rakim lyrics to look out for.

Nas prepping new album this summer

It’s been circa 3 years since we got Life Is Good and it looks like this summer we’ll get the next album in Nas’ extensive discography. He said as much in a live show this weekend, captured below.

I’m ready for some new Nas, Idk about ya’ll!

Death to all snitches and fake mofos, keep only real ones in your circle no second guess ass niggas. OH and NEW ALBUM COMING !!!!!!! @nasnyc #nas #vainorlando #illmatic #nasnyc #vain #stillmatic

A video posted by @forget_aboutdre on Apr 26, 2015 at 8:40am PDT

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