The Pulse - 03/6/2026

BMF Connects With Moksha Fitzgibbons

Few have shaped modern youth culture and commerce as Complex NTWRK President Moksha Fitzgibbons. A founding member in 2002, Fitzgibbons was key to building the brand into a global cultural platform before leading its next era. In conversation with BMF Founding Partner Brian Feit, the two discuss the convergence of media, experience, and community, and what it takes to stay connected to the audiences shaping culture today. ➔

Photo via Complex/@hketojakarta

Later this month, Complex NTWRK’s ComplexCon returns to Hong Kong’s AsiaWorld-Expo as one of the region’s defining gatherings across music, fashion, art, and street culture. Headlined by performances from Jennie and Yeat, the weekend brings together global and regional tastemakers for limited-edition drops, creator showcases, and hundreds of brand collabs under one roof. Book your tickets here. ➔

Photos via @bethennyfrankel / @cecilybauchmann / @glamzilla

BMF client L’Oréal Paris proves that cult status doesn’t require a luxury price tag. The Extensionist Mascara, reportedly lash icon Kendall Jenner’s fav, retails for just $16 yet continues to circulate across TikTok, Reels, and press as a must-have staple. With the right endorsement, strong product performance, and consistent brand storytelling, even a drugstore SKU can transcend category and become part of the cultural beauty conversation. Shop it here. ➔

Photos via Sarah Lou Kieran

Two-time Oscar winner Ruth E. Carter’s Afrofuturism in Costume Design, currently at the African American Museum in Philadelphia, spotlights the designer behind some of film’s most culturally defining stars and visual worlds, from Angela Bassett to Denzel Washington, Sinners to Roots. For those interested in the building, preservation, and projection of culture, plan your trip and buy tickets here. ➔

Photos via Mickalene Thomas/FX

Few minds have shaped modern television culture with the consistency or scale of Ryan Murphy. First with the profundity of Glee and evolving with American Horror Story to redefine what captures the mainstream’s attention and devotion. His newest releases, leveraging icons like JFK Jr. & Carolyn in Love Story, Bella Hadid in The Beauty, and Ariana Grande in American Horror Story S13, show no slow in momentum. Click here for ways to watch. ➔

Photos via Sunglass Hut

Dying to try Meta’s newest smart glasses? You’re in luck! BMF client Sunglass Hut offers bookable in-store demos at its locations to try the futuristic Ray-Ban and Oakley frames firsthand. Because purchase requires this demo and fitting, the experience turns retail into discovery, testing features like in-lens displays, audio, and Meta AI before committing. As culture buys in, expect more brands and styles to follow. Find your nearest store here. ➔

Photo via Lightroom.uk

Opening this April at London’s Lightroom, David Bowie: You’re Not Alone invites audiences inside the creative genius of one of culture’s most enduring shapeshifters through rare and previously unseen archival footage, personal materials, and 360° projections. The collection reveals the artist behind the personas that reshaped music, fashion, and identity across generations. If you’re in town, be sure to buy tickets here and stop by. ➔

Photo via Supreme

Supreme has long mastered cultural signaling through exclusivity, , turning each release into a test of devotion as much as demand. Their newest season continues that awareness with unexpected collaborations aside apparel—from a $4k Titan casket and Shure podcast mics to Coppertone sunscreen, a Dualit toaster, and even a Honda generator—knowing its audience will follow even in today’s attention economy.  A testament to their legacy, view and shop the collection while it lasts here. ➔

Photo via Casablanca

Almost 50 years after its release, Donna Summer’s MacArthur Park is finding new life after Alysa Liu’s gold-winning Olympic performance reintroduced the Disco powerhouse’s classic to a new generation, surging 1292% on Spotify in 24 hours. As audiences listen, many are unaware of its unexpected lineage. The original 1968 version was recorded by Richard Harris, later known globally as Dumbledore in the first two Harry Potter films—proof that the past can become present with a little cultural resonance. Listen to the 18-minute suite here. ➔

Photo via Interscope

If you’re looking for a change of pace—or a new tongue twister— Lana Del Rey’s latest single White Feather Hawk Tail Deer Hunter marks what many fans are calling a return to self. Through her iconic delivery and lyricism, Lana traces a visible transition: “Before I met him, wore a bow over three summers / Now it’s a ribbon round my neck, and it’s cherry colored.”  Her femininity moves from outward performance to something private and embodied, even as public scrutiny attempts to define it for her in real time. Listen here. ➔

Photo via Xinú Perfumes

FuegoZen by Mexican fragrance house Xinú channels scent as storytelling, celebrating the landscapes, rituals, and creative spirit of the Americas. Warm, resinous, and spice-forward, the candle draws from ancestral ingredients and regional traditions to create a scent grounded in meditation and reflection. Who knew culture could smell so lovely? Purchase here. ➔

From fashion capitals to emerging creative scenes, from business districts to niche communities in Tokyo, Seoul, Lagos, and beyond, we look at authentic cultural spaces from a handful of destinations that continue to inspire us as we work with brands. Not meant to be comprehensive in any way, we highlight the places where identity, creativity, and community feel especially alive. ➔

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Photo via @poppi

From Sundance to Super Bowl to socials, BMF client Poppi continues to collapse multiple cultural worlds into one cohesive brand presence with “VIBES.” At Sundance, they hosted a celebration for Charli XCX’s film at RHOSLC star Lisa Barlow’s lounge, merging film, music, reality TV, and, of course, VIBES. It was followed weeks later by the Super Bowl spot that starred Charli & Rachel Sennott, carrying the same cultural fluency onto one of the biggest stages. Poppi employees have even adopted VIBES-led job titles on LinkedIn—talk about commitment! ➔

Photo via Jamie Squire/Getty Images

Retired at 16. Olympic gold at 20. After choosing herself and stepping away from the sport altogether, Alysa Liu returned to the world stage at the Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics and delivered a performance that resonated far beyond the rink. Her routine to Donna Summer’s MacArthur Park propelled the dance hit back onto the charts as it reentered the zeitgeist for new audiences to discover. Watch the performance here. ➔

Photo via @ikessandwiches

Over 10k visitors have lined up to see the internet’s newest fixation, Punch, a baby monkey abandoned by his mother who now clings to a plush toy for comfort at Japan’s Ichikawa City Zoo. His story and viral charm have quickly catapulted him into full-blown stardom. Recognizing the momentum early, BMF’s Digital team showed how brands can meet culture in real time, reimagining his companion as an Ike’s Sandwiches plush. Find more of BMF’s work for Ike’s here. ➔

Photo via @thebrainypedia

Hey Queen(s)! Europe is entering a new royal era as a generation of female heirs prepare to ascend the continent’s thrones. Together, Spain’s Princess Leonor, Belgium’s Princess Elisabeth, the Netherland’s Princess Catharina-Amalia, Norway’s Princess Ingrid Alexandra, and Sweden’s Crown Princess Victoria represent a larger cultural shift: a modern monarchy, led by women, is no longer the exception—it’s becoming the standard.

Photos via Baltaire

Before Baltaire became one of Brentwood’s go-to steakhouses, did you know the space housed a Cheesecake Factory? Famously engineered to feel far more lavish than its mall-adjacent footprint might suggest, its intentionally layered interiors and spatial layouts subtly guide mood and movement. The result? A $2B American chain perceived as a “luxury” option through atmosphere alone—proof that thoughtful design can elevate dining long before the first bite. ➔

Photos via Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for Live Nation

Fans have been buzzing as Cardi B’s Little Miss Drama Tour kicks off, celebrating a 37-song setlist and surprise guestlist, but especially the emotion she leans into each performance. Her delivery of “Be Careful” has been a standout point of conversation, with audiences online and off amplifying the vulnerability behind each line with direct connections to her current life in the media. A reminder to not let anyone “take your happiness away.” Find tickets here. ➔

Photo via Sony Pictures

Beatlemania returns. From Paul Mescal as McCartney to Barry Keoghan as Ringo, Joseph Quinn as Harrison, and Harris Dickinson as Lennon, the casting has the internet talking nonstop. The four films, directed by Sam Mendes and coming to theaters in April 2028, promise to showcase the Fab Four's rise to fame and the cultural takeover they sparked. With first-look photos and behind-the-scenes footage circulating, fans old and new are getting glimpses of the moments that made the Beatles a global phenomenon. ➔

Photo via The Unsung Collective

Last week, the New York Philharmonic joined The Unsung Collective for a celebration and exploration of Black culture and issues central to the Harlem community, via works by Tchaikovsky and Carlos Simon. Led by Dr. Tyrone Clinton, Jr., the partnership highlighted Black voices and perspectives within Western art music, performed with accompanying visuals in community and cultural-centric venues like Harlem’s Abyssinian Baptist Church. Find their season here. ➔

Photo via Getty Images

Harry Styles’ recent presale frenzy has reignited debate around ticket culture, and specifically, who live music is really for in 2026. With dynamic pricing in play, fans faced four-figure tickets out of the gate, fueling broader frustration already shaped by Eras Tour-era demand surges and pricing models. While scale naturally affects pricing, artists like Olivia Dean have intentionally capped resale prices despite adding three more shows at MSG to meet demand, proving accessibility remains a strategic choice.

Photo via Getty Images

Year after year, Kate Bush sees a resurgence driven by younger generations, with “Running Up That Hill” serving the clearest proof. Following its Stranger Things revival, the 1985 track surged more than 8,700% in Spotify streams, reached No. 1 in eight countries, and climbed to No. 3 on the Billboard Hot 100. Others from her iconic catalog, including “Babooshka,” “Army Dreamers,” and “Wuthering Heights,” saw their own renewed spikes in listens across charts. Decades after their original release, digitally native audiences are reshaping the lifespan of classic hits. Watch the newest viral sensation here. ➔

Photo via @napoleonbonapartehat

They say history repeats itself, but no one expected this comeback. Somehow, Napoleon’s infamous ego and theatrics have become the “diva” archetype of the 21st‑century TikTok empire. Showing up late out of boredom, hating small talk enough to walk away mid-convo, spiraling after being left on delivered, and walking around town for a little public validation. Apparently, today’s youth has more in common with a French emperor from the 1800s than anyone wants to admit. ➔

Photo via @rayban

Available online at BMF client Sunglass Hut, A$AP Rocky’s rollout for Ray Ban reads like a love letter to ‘90s NY cool and the Y2K glam that’s back in heavy rotation. The line mirrors that mood with blackout staples and next-gen wrap silhouettes built for flash, cameras, and nightlife. With nods to Belly-era luxury and Nas in the mix, catch how the references stack and switch in motion in the commercial here. ➔