John Forté, the Grammy-nominated producer known for his work with the Fugees and Wyclef Jean, was found dead on January 12 at his home in Chilmark, Massachusetts, at the age of 50. Police reported no signs of foul play, with the cause of death under investigation by the state medical examiner's office. Forté's career spanned hip-hop production and solo releases, marked by both acclaim and legal challenges.
John Forté, a key figure in 1990s hip-hop, died on Monday, January 12, 2026, at his home in Chilmark, Massachusetts. He was 50 years old. Chilmark Police Chief Sean Slavin stated there were no indications of foul play or an immediately apparent cause of death, and the state medical examiner's office is investigating.
Born in Brownsville, Brooklyn, Forté showed early promise as a musician. He earned a full scholarship to Phillips Exeter Academy in New Hampshire, where he studied violin, graduating in 1993. After a brief stint at New York University, he left to work in A&R at Rawkus Entertainment. There, he connected with Lauryn Hill and joined the Refugee Camp crew, led by Wyclef Jean.
Forté's breakthrough came with the Fugees' landmark 1996 album The Score, which won multiple Grammys. At just 21, he produced tracks including 'Family Business,' 'Cowboys,' and the bonus single 'Fu-Gee-La,' earning a Grammy nomination and joining the group on tour. He also collaborated on Jean's 1997 debut Wyclef Jean Presents The Carnival, appearing on songs like 'Street Jeopardy' and 'We Trying to Stay Alive.' In 1998, Forté released his own debut album Poly Sci, produced by Jean, which peaked at No. 84 on the Billboard 200. That year, his single 'Ninety Nine [Flash The Message]' reached No. 59 on the Billboard Hot 100.
Over the years, Forté worked with artists such as DMX and Carly Simon, whose son Ben Taylor was a close friend. His final album, Vessels, Angels & Ancestors, came out in 2021. Reflecting on the Fugees' 2021 reunion for The Score's 25th anniversary, Forté told Billboard, 'Talk about coming full-circle. I am humbled and thrilled to be connected to that album... Time heals.'
Forté's life took a dramatic turn in 2000 when he was arrested at Newark International Airport for carrying suitcases containing over $1.4 million worth of liquid cocaine. Convicted on intent-to-distribute charges, he received a 14-year mandatory minimum sentence. In a 2002 interview with Rolling Stone from prison, he said, 'I allowed elements to be near me—not drugs but people. That’s what caught me up... The price the government wants me to pay for that is fourteen years.' After serving about seven years, his sentence was commuted by President George W. Bush in 2008, following advocacy from Simon, Taylor, and Senator Orrin Hatch.
He is survived by his wife, photographer Lara Fuller, and two children.
