John Forté, the acclaimed Grammy-nominated musician celebrated for his contributions to the Fugees and the Refugee Camp All-Stars, has passed away at the age of 50. Authorities confirmed that Forté was found deceased on Monday afternoon at his residence in Chilmark, Massachusetts. Chilmark Police, Chief Sean Slavin stated that there were no signs of foul play or an immediately apparent cause of death, and the state medical examiner’s office is currently investigating the case.

A native of New York City, Forté was recognized as a musical prodigy who began to make significant waves in the industry in his early twenties. He played a crucial role as a contributor to the Fugees’ landmark and Grammy-winning album, The Score, and also lent his talents to Wyclef Jean’s Grammy-nominated project, The Carnival. His early work established him as a key figure in the hip-hop landscape of the late 1990s.

Beyond his collaborative successes, Forté also cultivated a notable solo career as a multi-instrumentalist and rapper. He released several solo albums, including Poly Sci and I John, which featured contributions from prominent artists such as Carly Simon, whose son, Ben Taylor, maintained a close friendship with Forté.

In 1998, Forté scored a solo hit on the Billboard Hot 100 with “Ninety Nine [Flash The Message],” which reached No. 59. His album, Poly Sci, released in the same year, peaked at No. 84 on the Billboard 200. In his final interview with Billboard, Forté reflected on the possibility of the Fugees reuniting for the 25th anniversary of The Score in 2021, expressing humility and excitement about his connection to the album and his ongoing contact with his former bandmates, stating, “Time heals.”

Forté’s life encountered a major setback in 2000 when he was arrested at Newark International Airport and charged with possession of liquid cocaine and drug trafficking. He was subsequently sentenced to 14 years in prison. However, his sentence was ultimately commuted after seven years by President George W. Bush, a decision influenced by the passionate advocacy of numerous public figures, including Carly Simon, who championed his release. John Forté is survived by his wife, the photographer, Lara Fuller, and their two children.