Intellexual

Nico Segal and Nate Fox, the Grammy-winning hip-hop producers and songwriters also recognized collectively as the Social Experiment, operate Intellexual as an atmospheric side project marked by a more exploratory approach than their earlier output. Based in Los Angeles and long-time collaborators with Chance the Rapper, the duo released an album under the Social Experiment name in 2015 before switching to the Intellexual moniker for their self-titled sophomore release in 2019.

After achieving breakthrough success alongside Chance the Rapper, Frank Ocean, and Kanye West, Chicago-bred trumpeter Segal and Rust Belt beatmaker Fox issued Surf in 2015 under the Donnie Trumpet & the Social Experiment banner. The 2015 album featured appearances by BJ the Chicago Kid, Big Sean, KYLE, Noname, DRAM, Janelle Monáe, Erykah Badu, and additional contributors. Following Grammy Awards earned for their contributions to Chance's 2016 mixtape Coloring Book, the pair maintained their production work, with Segal retiring the Donnie Trumpet pseudonym after 2016 and the two ultimately rebranding entirely as Intellexual. The resulting effort displayed subdued and atmospheric production drawing from '70s singer/songwriters such as James Taylor, Carole King, and Carly Simon, along with footwork, bossa nova, and experimental jazz and neo-soul, while enlisting guests that included Esperanza Spalding, Vic Mensa, DJ Spinn, Raury, Knox Fortune, and further artists.