ComplexCon returns with Kid Cudi, futuristic fashion and a culinary feast

The latest street fashion, a hip-hop music festival and a culinary feast are all on deck for the 2023 ComplexCon as the two-day festival returns to the Long Beach Convention Center on Nov. 18-19.

“You’re going to come to ComplexCon and you’re going to find your new favorite restaurant, your new favorite brand and your new favorite artist all in one weekend,” said Neil Wright, who helps organize the event.

Now in its seventh year, ComplexCon includes a sort of pop-up mall, where fashion forward companies will often debut new surprise items like shoes, clothes and other gear. Then there’s the music, which this year includes a headlining set by Kid Cudi, along with several other artists performing throughout the weekend. If you’re hungry, there’s an entire food festival just outside the Convention Center dubbed the First We Feast Lagoon.

“The show overall is an evolution and it’s always kind of new each year. It’s paying attention to what is actively going on in this community. It’s not cookie-cutter, it’s not the same every year. We’re always trying to pay attention to what’s going on with fashion, music and even the food,” said Matt Senna, senior vice president of experiential for BuzzFeed, which organizes ComplexCon.

Here’s what’s going on at Complex Con this year.

First you feast

It’s a long weekend, so make sure to fuel up with some good grub. While ComplexCon started with a focus on fashion and music, it has more recently made food a part of the main lineup with the First We Feast Lagoon, which will be located just outside the Convention Center at Rainbow Lagoon.

First We Feast is an online food-culture magazine and YouTube channel that co-produces the series “Hot Ones,” a widely popular show where celebrities eat increasingly hot chicken wings while answering in-depth questions from host Sean Evans, who is set to make an appearance at ComplexCon.

Besides the hot wings, there will be more than 30 of the hippest restaurants and eateries from across the U.S. They include Broad Street Oyster Co., Carmen’s Empanadas, Chicken & Mumbo Sauce, Down North Pizza, Ggiata, Katsu Sando, Lunasia Dim Sum and the respected food truck All Flavor No Grease will be on the menu as well. Wright said a lot of the menu items will be specials that are only available at ComplexCon.

“I think year over year there’s been Instagramable recipes or items that have popped up that have really created hype moments within the overall weekend each year,” he said.

Street Style

This is no retro-style show because ComplexCon is where you come to find out what the cool kids are wearing today, tomorrow and in the future. Dozens of well–known companies as well as startups set up booths at the event to sell their gear and debut new products.

“Fashion wise, you have everything from the big players like Asics or Adidas doing drops down to brand new brands. You have a combination of high-fashion brands like Marc Jacobs and then you have very street oriented local brands like Ghetto Rodeo that are more local,” Senna said.

There will also be fashion panels as part of the ComplexCon(versations) speaker series where experts from across mediums define what’s now and next in culture. One of the most popular will likely be the always anticipated Sneaker Of The Year panel, lead by sneaker expert Joe La Puma.

The music festival

Hip-hop icon and Grammy Award-winning, multi-platinum artist Kid Cudi is headlining the weekend of music with a Sunday night performance to close out ComplexCon.

“Cudi is always someone who is evolving and reinventing himself and we’re really excited,” Wright said.

Another act on the lineup is Lyrical Lemonade, a Chicago-based DJ collective that will curate DJ sets and additional special guests.

“They’re really on the forefront of what’s happening in music, especially hip-hop,” Wright said.

Also on the musical lineup this year is Compton rapper Kalan.FRFR, DJ and comedian Kerwin Frost, teen rapper Luh Tyler and others.

ComplexCon

When: 9 a.m.-7 p.m. on Nov. 18-19

Where: Long Beach Convention Center 300 E. Ocean Blvd., Long Beach

Tickets: $115-$625 at complexcon.com.