The Alt Black

Written by: Justus Hawkins

---

“If it’s a miracle to be alive and well.”-Nico Segal

By Justus Hawkins 

In 2015, I was three years out of high school and about to turn 21. I had lost a significant amount of weight, was attending community college, and found myself in a renaissance of self-discovery and new music. That period felt almost magical.

Each morning began with 100 push-ups, a two-mile run, and a soundtrack I believed contained the greatest song ever made. Most days, it was an alternative rock anthem about heartbreak, depression, and a glimmer of hope. Other mornings, I turned to the joyful sounds of a Chicago native whose trademark “AHH!” brought comfort and energy. The world knows him as Chance the Rapper.

My introduction to Chance came in 2014 while riding shotgun in my cousin’s silver Volvo. “Cocoa Butter Kisses,” a track from Chance’s Acid Rap mixtape, filled the car and immediately caught my attention. From that day, I was a fan. What I didn’t know then was that a year later, my admiration would grow to include an entire collective of Chicago artists.

In 2015, The Social Experiment, led by Nico Segal, also known as Donnie Trumpet , released Surf, a soulful, jazzy album brimming with collaboration. The 16-track project featured an eclectic lineup including Erykah Badu, Busta Rhymes, Big Sean, Quavo, Noname, J. Cole, SZA, DRAM, Jamila Woods, and Chance the Rapper, among others.

I spent countless hours with that album in the shower, at the gym, and in conversation. I even remember missing the group’s Maryland show and meeting someone on campus the next day wearing their tour merch. We’ve been friends ever since.

Surf debuted during the same period as mainstream hits like Fetty Wap’s “My Way,” Rae Sremmurd’s “No Type,” The Weeknd’s “Can’t Feel My Face,” Jidenna’s “Classic Man,” and Silento’s viral “Watch Me (Whip/Nae Nae).” Despite the chart-toppers, none of them resonated with me like Surf did.

For me, Surf was exactly that! A wave of sound that washed over everything else. From its opening track, “Miracle,” with its warm brass tones and message of gratitude, to the HBCU halftime-inspired “Slip Slide” featuring Busta Rhymes, to DRAM’s soulful “Caretaker,” and Jamila Woods’ haunting “Warm Enough,” the album captured a spirit of collaboration and joy. For months, I couldn’t stop playing “Sunday Candy.”

Ten years later, so much has changed. I’ve graduated from both community college and a four-year university, struggled with mental health, lost friends and family, and experienced life’s ups and downs. Yet Surf remained a constant a source of comfort and renewal.

On Oct. 10, 2025, The Social Experiment performed Surf in full to a sold-out crowd at The Metro in Chicago. To call it a concert would be an understatement. It felt spiritual,  a shedding of sorts.

The night opened with a DJ set, followed by The O’My’s, a soulful rock band from Chicago whose performance captivated the crowd. Their set, featuring the song “Honey Dip” with Nico Segal, showcased musicianship at its finest the kind of artistry that commands reverence.

Afterward, Chicago producer Renzel, owner of Studio Shapes, introduced a lineup of emerging artists. Rapper J Bambii delivered a confident, powerful set that immediately earned my respect. More than 10 artists followed, each bringing their own energy. One of the final performers, Moyana, had the crowd singing along word-for-word. Her stage presence and vocal control made it clear she’s an artist to watch.

Somewhere between those performances, a sense of joy filled the room. The collaborative spirit that defined Surf was alive onstage, carried forward by a new generation of Chicago talent. Segal later announced that Surf 2 is on the way and that several of these young artists will be featured on the project.

The crowd erupted. Moments later, Peter Cottontale, the group’s keyboardist and producer, took the stage, grinning from ear to ear. Then came Segal, dressed in a custom white conductor’s suit adorned with purple dots and the group’s “SOX” logo. Backed by a live band and vocalists, The Social Experiment opened with “Miracle.” Hearing it live brought back a rush of emotion, a decade’s worth of growth, loss, and gratitude.

Throughout the night, artists including Chance the Rapper, Jamila Woods, Saba Pivot, DRAM, Joey Purp, and Vic Mensa joined the stage to perform tracks from Surf, their solo work, and Chance’s Coloring Book mixtape. Each appearance felt like a homecoming.

Standing in the front row, I felt overwhelmed. A six-foot Black man with locs, hands raised, reciting every lyric and feeling every note.

For me, Surf has always been more than an album. It’s been a companion, one that reflected my own evolution, struggles, and triumphs.

To everyone who helped create Surf, thank you for crafting a project that embodied authenticity, joy, and collaboration. And thank you, Nico Segal, for believing in your vision and sharing it with the world.