John Forte, Fugees Collaborator, Dies at 50

John Forté, the Grammy-nominated musician and producer known for his collaborations with the Fugees and Wyclef Jean, was found dead Monday afternoon at his home in Chilmark, Massachusetts. He was 50 years old.

Chilmark Police Chief Sean Slavin stated that there were no signs of foul play or an immediately apparent cause of death. The state medical examiner's office is investigating the circumstances surrounding Forté's death, according to local authorities.

A Brooklyn native, Forté began his musical journey as a classical violin prodigy. He earned a full scholarship to Phillips Exeter Academy in New Hampshire, where he studied violin, and later attended New York University briefly before dropping out to pursue a career in music. He worked as an A&R representative at Rawkus Entertainment, an influential hip-hop label, before connecting with Lauryn Hill and joining the Refugee Camp collective in the mid-1990s.

Forté gained prominence at age 21 for his contributions to the Fugees' 1996 album The Score, which achieved multiplatinum status and critical acclaim. He co-wrote and co-produced tracks such as "Family Business" and the remix of "Fu-Gee-La," earning a Grammy nomination for...