John Forté, Fugees Collaborator and Grammy-Nominated Artist, Dead at 50

John Forté, the Grammy-nominated recording artist best known for his work with The Fugees, has died. He was 50.

TMZ confirmed that Forté died Monday at his home in Chilmark, Massachusetts, a town on Martha’s Vineyard. Chilmark Police Chief Sean Slavin said Forté’s death was sudden and that the cause is unclear. Authorities do not suspect foul play.

Forté made his biggest mark on The Fugees’ landmark second album, The Score, released in February 1996. The album went on to win the Grammy Award for Best Rap Album and is widely considered one of the most influential hip-hop records of the decade. Forté appeared on the tracks “Family Business” and “Cowboys,” and also co-wrote and produced several songs on the project.

His path to the group came through Lauryn Hill, who introduced him to the trio. After hearing Forté’s music, Wyclef Jean and Pras were impressed and asked him to anchor the song “Cowboys,” helping cement his place in the album’s legacy.

Forté continued to collaborate with Wyclef Jean after The Fugees’ success, appearing on Wyclef’s 1997 solo debut, Wyclef Jean Presents The Carnival. Wyclef also produced Forté’s own debut album, Poly Sci, released in 1998.

His rising career was abruptly derailed in 2000, when Forté was arrested at Newark International Airport in connection with a criminal conspiracy involving liquid cocaine. He was convicted on charges of possession with intent to distribute and conspiracy to distribute and received a mandatory-minimum sentence of 14 years. Forté ultimately served seven years in a Pennsylvania prison before his sentence was commuted in November 2008 by then-President George W. Bush.

After his release, Forté returned to music and rebuilt his life. He moved to New York City and wrote “Something to Lean On,” which became a theme song for the Brooklyn Nets, playing before every home game during the team’s inaugural Brooklyn season in 2012–13.

Forté later settled on Martha’s Vineyard, where he met his wife, Lara Fuller, in 2015. The couple married and had two children together, daughter Wren and son Haile.

Remembered for both his talent and resilience, John Forté leaves behind a lasting imprint on hip-hop history — from a defining role on The Score to a hard-fought return to music and family life.