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.[3][2][5] 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.[1][3]

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.[1][3][2] 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.[1][2] Segal dropped the Donnie Trumpet moniker in 2016 following the U.S. presidential election.[3]

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.[5][3][2]

Fun Facts

• Dropped the stage name 'Donnie Trumpet' on November 9, 2016, the day after Donald Trump's U.S. presidential election win.[3]
• Joined Frank Ocean's world tour band for rehearsals the day after Kids These Days' final show in 2013.[6]
• Surf by Donnie Trumpet & the Social Experiment was downloaded over 618,000 times in its first week as a free iTunes release.[3]
• Performed at the 2016 National Tree Lighting Ceremony at the Obama White House and appeared on Saturday Night Live three times.[2]

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) [2013]
• J. Cole - producer and collaborator (various tracks) [2010s]
• Kanye West - producer collaboration (various projects) [2010s]

External Links

• Spotify
• Wikipedia