The hip-hop world is mourning the loss of John Forté, the Grammy-nominated musician, producer, and longtime collaborator with the Fugees, who died on January 12, 2026, at the age of 50. Forté was found unresponsive at his home in Chilmark, Massachusetts—known to many as Martha’s Vineyard—on Monday afternoon. Police responded to a call at approximately 2:25 p.m., where Forté was pronounced dead at the scene. According to Chilmark Police Chief Sean Slavin, there were no signs of foul play or any immediately apparent cause of death. The Massachusetts state medical examiner’s office is currently investigating the case, and a full report is pending.
Family friends have confirmed that Forté had been managing a seizure condition following a serious health setback about a year ago, which required hospitalization. In the months leading up to his death, he had reportedly been taking prescribed medication to control the condition. Despite these challenges, Forté remained active in music, advocacy, and family life, leaving an indelible mark on the industry and those who knew him.
Born on January 30, 1975, in Brownsville, Brooklyn, Forté’s early years were shaped by both adversity and artistic promise. Encouraged by his mother to pursue the violin, he developed a love for music at a young age. He attended the prestigious Phillips Exeter Academy, an experience that not only broadened his horizons but also helped him forge relationships that would influence his future career. After graduating, Forté studied music business at New York University, a move that set the stage for his entry into the professional music world.
Forté’s career took off in the mid-1990s when he began working at Rawkus Records, a label that became synonymous with New York’s underground hip-hop renaissance. It was here that he cemented his reputation as a multi-instrumentalist, rapper, and producer. His big break came as a key contributor to The Fugees’ 1996 landmark album, The Score. According to Variety, Forté appeared on several tracks, including “Family Business” and “Cowboys,” and was credited as both a writer and producer. The album went on to win the Grammy for Best Rap Album in 1997 and sold millions of copies worldwide, making The Fugees a household name and launching Forté into the spotlight.
Following the success of The Score, Forté collaborated extensively with Wyclef Jean, working on Jean’s Grammy-nominated album The Carnival. He also released his own solo projects, starting with Poly Sci in 1998, which was produced by Jean and featured contributions from a range of artists. His sophomore album, I, John, was released in 2002 and included guest appearances from Dinah Washington and Carly Simon. The latter’s son, Ben Taylor, was a close friend and introduced Forté to Martha’s Vineyard, where he would eventually settle. Forté’s later works included Stylefree the EP (2009), Water Light Sound (2011), and the 2021 record Vessels, Angels & Ancestors.
But Forté’s ascent was interrupted by legal troubles. In 2000, he was arrested at Newark International Airport for accepting a briefcase containing liquid cocaine. He was charged with possession and drug trafficking, resulting in a mandatory minimum sentence of 14 years in federal prison. While awaiting trial, Forté continued to record music, even releasing I, John. According to the Associated Press, Forté became a prominent figure in discussions around criminal justice reform during his incarceration, drawing support from notable public figures, including Carly Simon, who advocated for his release.
After serving seven years, Forté’s sentence was commuted in December 2008 by President George W. Bush, a rare act that underscored the growing national conversation about sentencing reform and rehabilitation. Upon release, Forté returned to New York City and resumed his music career, releasing new material and engaging in advocacy work. In 2012, he wrote “Something to Lean On,” which became the inaugural theme song for the Brooklyn Nets. He was also involved in projects aimed at supporting youth and criminal justice reform, using his own story as a testament to the power of second chances.
In recent years, Forté had been living in Martha’s Vineyard for about a decade, a place he came to love after being introduced by Ben Taylor in the late 1990s. According to Variety, he had plans to tour with the Fugees in late 2024, and in a July 2024 interview with Martha’s Vineyard Arts & Ideas, he revealed he was working on music for HBO’s “Eyes on the Prize” series and was putting together a film about his own life. These projects, now left unfinished, speak to his enduring creativity and drive to share his experiences with a wider audience.
Forté’s passing has left a void in the hip-hop community and beyond. He is survived by his wife, photographer Lara Fuller, and two children. Friends and colleagues remember him not just for his musical talent, but for his resilience, warmth, and commitment to giving back. As a multi-instrumentalist, rapper, producer, and advocate, Forté’s journey from Brownsville to the heights of the music industry, through adversity and redemption, stands as a powerful narrative of hope and transformation.
According to family friends, Forté’s struggle with a seizure condition in the year before his death was a private battle. Despite his health challenges, he continued to work on new music and remained engaged with his family and community. The outpouring of tributes from artists, fans, and activists alike underscores the impact he had during his five decades of life.
As the investigation into his death continues, the music world reflects on the legacy of a man who helped shape one of hip-hop’s most celebrated albums, advocated for criminal justice reform, and inspired countless others with his story. John Forté’s life was marked by both extraordinary achievement and profound struggle, but above all, by a relentless pursuit of meaning through music and service.
In the end, Forté’s story remains one of talent, redemption, and hope—a reminder that even in the face of hardship, creativity and compassion can leave a lasting mark.
