Nico Segal

Biography

Nico Segal, born June 25, 1993, in Chicago, Illinois, began his musical journey as a trumpeter, attending the Merit School of Music where he studied jazz and classical trumpet under masters like Tito Carrillo. He rose to prominence as a founding member of the band Kids These Days in 2009, alongside Vic Mensa, Greg Landfair, and others, blending hip-hop, rock, jazz, and experimental sounds; the group released the Hard Times EP in 2011 and Traphouse Rock mixtape in 2012 before disbanding in 2013. During this period, Segal released solo projects like the Illasoul: Shades of Blue mixtape in 2012 and Donnie Trumpet EP in 2013, establishing himself as a versatile producer and performer immersed in Chicago's vibrant, genre-blurring music scene.

Formerly known as Donnie Trumpet, Segal co-founded The Social Experiment in late 2013 with Chance the Rapper, Peter Cottontale, Greg Landfair Jr., and Nate Fox, crafting an eclectic mix of jazz, R&B, hip-hop, and gospel; their debut album Surf (2015) was a free iTunes download that amassed over 618,000 downloads in its first week, featuring guests like Erykah Badu and Janelle Monáe. He earned a Grammy for production on Chance the Rapper's Coloring Book and has collaborated with artists including J. Cole, Ed Sheeran, Kanye West, Bleachers, and Neil Young, while performing on high-profile stages like Saturday Night Live (three times), the Obama White House, ESPYS, and NY Jazz Fest. Segal dropped the Donnie Trumpet moniker in 2016 following the U.S. presidential election.

Segal's style reflects Chicago's fusion ethos, drawing from house, avant-garde jazz (AACM), and local jam sessions with influences like Von Freeman and Victor Garcia; later projects include The JuJu Exchange (Exchange in 2017, JazzRx in 2023), Intellexual (2019) with Nate Fox, and his solo album Tell the Ghost Welcome Home (2023), marking a personal reintroduction amid a career defined by collaboration.

Fun Facts

• Dropped the stage name 'Donnie Trumpet' on November 9, 2016, the day after Donald Trump's U.S. presidential election win.
• Joined Frank Ocean's world tour band for rehearsals the day after Kids These Days' final show in 2013.
• Surf by Donnie Trumpet & the Social Experiment was downloaded over 618,000 times in its first week as a free iTunes release.
• Performed at the 2016 National Tree Lighting Ceremony at the Obama White House and appeared on Saturday Night Live three times.

Musical Connections

Mentors/Influences

• Tito Carrillo - trumpet teacher at Merit School of Music (jazz and classical trumpet studies) [early 2000s]
• Victor Garcia - mentor and favorite trumpet player in Chicago scene (jam sessions and local performances) [2009-2013]
• Von Freeman - early jam session influence (Chicago jazz scene exposure) [early career]
• Marquis Hill - big brother figure and stylistic inspiration (Chicago trumpet influence) [ongoing]

Key Collaborators

• Chance the Rapper - co-founder of The Social Experiment and production partner (Surf (2015), Coloring Book (Grammy-winning production)) [2013-present]
• Vic Mensa - bandmate in Kids These Days and SaveMoney collective (Hard Times EP (2011), Traphouse Rock (2012)) [2009-2013]
• Peter Cottontale - keyboardist in The Social Experiment (Surf (2015)) [2013-2015]
• Greg Landfair Jr. - drummer in Kids These Days and The Social Experiment (Hard Times EP, Surf) [2009-present]
• Nate Fox - producer/engineer in The Social Experiment and Intellexual (Surf (2015), Intellexual (2019)) [2013-present]
• Julian Reid - keyboardist and co-founder of The JuJu Exchange (Exchange (2017), JazzRx (2023)) [2022-present]
• Frank Ocean - touring band member post-Kids These Days (world tour)
• J. Cole - producer and collaborator (various tracks) [2010s]
• Kanye West - producer collaboration (various projects) [2010s]

External Links

• Spotify
• Wikipedia