[7][8][9] Complex Networks reports on popular and emerging trends in style, sneakers, food, music, sports and pop culture.

[10] Complex Networks reached over 90 million unique users per month in 2013[11] across its owned and operated and partner sites, socials and YouTube channels.

brand, Marc Eckō, as a print magazine aimed at providing young men a report of the latest in hip hop, fashion and pop culture without regard to race.

[9] In 2011, Complex acquired Pigeons & Planes, an indie music and rap blog, and brought their total sites to 51 with monthly traffic of 25 million uniques.

[38] In August 2014, Complex ranked #3 in the United States in a ComScore survey of unique visitors between the ages of 18 and 34 with 20.3 million in that demographic per month.

[39] In January 2015, it announced its acquisition of Collider, the online source for movies, television, breaking news, incisive content, and imminent trends.

Collider.com reaches over 3 million monthly unique readers (comScore, December 2014) powered by a team of ten writers, including founder and Editor in Chief Steve Weintraub.

[44] In September 2013, it secured $25 million in a second round of funding from Iconix Brand Group, who own Rocawear, Starter, Eckō Unltd.

The venture emphasized a goal of building "a portfolio of the emerging digital brands of the future for the millennial and Gen-Z audience", and proposed that Complex would develop content for Verizon-owned AOL and go90.

Some of Complex's early covers included Nas (May 2002), Tony Hawk and Xzibit (June/July 2002), Ludacris and Dale Earnhardt Jr. (April/May 2003), and Mos Def and David Bowie (August/September 2003).

[50] In September 2019, the American rapper Kid Cudi and the Japanese designer Nigo were interviewed by Complex and also appeared jointly on a digital cover and told the stories of their careers and rise in the entertainment and streetwear industries.

[64] It was co-created by Marc Eckō and Aaron Levant, combining Complex’s influence in youth culture with Reed Exhibitions’ event expertise.

[65] Designed as a "cultural World’s Fair", ComplexCon merges music, art, fashion, food, and technology into an interactive experience.

[69] The event featured concerts, brand exhibitions, streetwear pop-ups, art installations, and panels, with Eckō moderating discussions and shaping content.

These virtual and in-person events have drawn in large crowds of young adults who relate and connect with the growing streetwear and rising hip-hop artists.

[75] In 2024, Complex Networks was acquired by NTWRK, led by Aaron Levant, with plans for continued experiential marketing initiatives.

[77] ComplexCon remains a flagship event for Complex Networks, recognized for influencing global street culture through its blend of commerce, entertainment, and community engagement.

The event included virtual appearances by T-Pain, Fat Joe, Lil Yachty, Jack Harlow, and Donatella Versace.

[85] In 2013 alone, Complex created an average of 47 pieces of content a month on behalf of major brands, including McDonald's, Gillette, Levi's, Toyota, Adidas and others.

[98] The incident was covered by a variety of online publications including Huffington Post, NY Daily News, Business Insider, Gawker, and others.

According to Complex, Wale refused requests to meet, but he did post a humorous Instagram video that day which made light of the situation.