MMC* Takes ComplexCon 2022

Jacob Alvarez of MMC* at ComplexCon 2022 by David Anguiano

BRAND SHOWCASE HOSTED BY VERDY AND FEATURed FIRST LIVE PERFORMANCE OF I KNOW NIGO

Complex has been a huge supporter of MMC* since its second year, specifically Pigeons and Planes, a branch of the publication which focuses on music and rising talent. I was lucky enough to have a repertoire going with co-founder of P&P, Jacob Moore, who shared my enthusiasm on both music and collectibles, thus we teamed up to create limited edition figures for every artist featured on the first ever P&P compilation album See You Next Year. Up and coming artists like Teezo Touchdown and Ekkstacy had songs on the record and were extremely excited to have their very own action figures; even executive producer Mike Dean received a 1/1 piece. It was one of those projects that you question how it all came together, but P&P have been early supporters of myself, so I was happy to return the favor in this unique way. That was a few months ago. A few weeks leading up to ComplexCon’s return to Long Beach, someone I worked close with on the project, Le’Roy Benros, invited me to the fashion and music event. It felt great to still be intertwined in this entire rollout, so I eagerly accepted.

David Anguiano at ComplexCon 2022 by Jacob Alvarez

Contributor of MMC* David Anguiano documented most of the event, constantly reminding me of how hard we had worked to get here. We picked up our exhibitor credentials and watched Vick, the Verdy mascot, loom over the entrance of the Long Beach Convention Center. Influencers, athletes, rappers, etc. toured the seemingly endless horizon of booths showcasing art, designer clothes, and meet and greets. It was a bit overwhelming in all honesty; there was so much to look at with lines wrapping many booths such as Human Made, Born x Raised, and Babylon. However, my attention was on the Converse x Pigeons and Planes set up.

The corner booth was adjacent to the ComplexCon sign that flashed with multiple graphics, highlighting their own booth that was handing out zines and advertising the various covers from past issues. We both grabbed a zine featuring Yeat in his first cover and then went to the P&P area where two baby blue walls held relics from the See You Next Year album. The burn book from Wallice, hand written notes from Terry Presume and Brevin Kim, and synths resembling that of Mike Dean’s studio were scattered around the perimeter in glass cases. Old 70s and 80s TV sets played clips from the making of the album along with snippets when each artist received their action figures. That was a real moment for me to witness. We caught up with Moore and Benros in person finally after chatting via email and phone for months, and I assured them my thanks for constantly including MMC* in all events related to the album and for the support P&P and Complex have shown me over the years. I also mentioned that MMC* would be here anytime for their creative endeavors.

Teezo Touchdown performing at ComplexCon 2022 by Jacob Alvarez

Artists frequented the booth, from Brevin Kim to Ekkstacy and Fana Hues. Many decorated their own pair of Converse which fans could also do with logos and artwork related to the record. Teezo Touchdown even performed a few songs live, wearing a full wedding gown and the signature rose bouquet microphone. He also debuted some songs of his next project, with fans vibing throughout the booth. Afterwards, I went up to Teezo who was greeting fans and thanked him for his music while mentioning I was the one behind the action figure. He seemed very ecstatic, writing me a personal note from his personal post-its stack that read “Jacob, you put the action in action figure!” It was a lovely gesture and I have the note up on my wall a reminder of what MMC* can make someone feel. Terry Presume also performed a short set while graphic designer and the man behind the album artwork, HK of BROCKHAMPTON, graced the area with his presence. The enthusiasm of music and artist elevation were heavily on display which was 100% genuine.

A note from Teezo Touchdown at ComplexCon 2022 by David Anguiano

Anguiano and I grabbed a bite after doing a few more laps around the convention center; Tyler, the Creator and Kanye West were seen walking amongst fans with crowds closely following. The food options were pretty light, and the wait didn’t invite guests to dine all that much. Another issue came during the performance aspect of the event. To my knowledge, this was the first time ComplexCon asked for visitors to purchase a ticket to the shopping portion and an additional ticket for the concert. Many fans were caught off guard with this new institution, as many flooded the the three lines feeding people into the small arena. Numerous people were turned away due to being confused that they had to purchase separate tickets. The devices were also being overworked possibly as some fans were scanned once and not let in but minutes later scanned again and granted access. Long story short, the staff were incredibly nice and patient which helped Anguiano and I get in.

Lil Uzi Vert performing at ComplexCon 2022 by David Anguiano

The performances were short but sweet: headliner Nigo Dj’ed most of the event, with artists like Pusha T and Clipse, Ski Mask the Slump God, and Kodak Black coming out to perform a couple of tracks. The room was packed, but not to the point of inconvenience. Lastly, headliner Lil Uzi Vert walked out with a large Jheri curl that he even poked fun at. Fans looked past this and moshed to hits like “XO Tour Llif3” and the live debut of “Just Wanna Rock.” About four songs long, fans hoped for one last song but the lights came on and the crowd dispersed to end the night. The showcase had a different atmosphere when compared to events I usually attend, but I was grateful to be invited and welcomed by both Pigeons & Planes and Complex. Seeing artists like Pharrell, the Red Hot Chili Peppers, and David Bowie on covers of old Complex issues reminded me of the publication being more than just a platform with a large social media following. Complex is something vital to the culture of music and fashion, so to play a small role in a story they’re trying to tell while also experiencing my first ComplexCon; meaningful to put it simply. Thanks to Anguiano for riding with me on this mission and hope to be back next time (maybe have a booth of our own)!

PS: Check out our gallery of photos from the performance!

PS: Check out our gallery of photos from the performance!