John Forte, Rapper and Fugees Producer, Dies at 50

"John Forté, the rapper and producer who emerged as a key contributor to the mid 1990s New York hip-hop scene and close collaborator of Fugees, was found dead at his home in Chilmark, Massachusetts, on Monday (January 12), The Associated Press reports. There was no sign of foul play or a "readily apparent cause of death," Sean Slavin, the Chilmark police chief, said in a statement, adding that the state medical examiner's office would investigate."

"Forté was born in Brownsville, Brooklyn, in 1975, and studied classical violin as a child, eventually becoming first violin in a youth orchestra. As much enamored with jazz, soul, and Vivaldi as he was with hip-hop, he nonetheless found his way into rap circles. Chancing into a spot in the studio where Gang Starr were recording second album Step in the Arena, he learned beatmaking by watching DJ Premier and began experimenting with rap as a way of "superhero-forming,""

John Forté was found dead at his Chilmark, Massachusetts home on January 12 with no sign of foul play and no readily apparent cause of death; the state medical examiner will investigate. He was born in Brownsville, Brooklyn, in 1975 and trained in classical violin. He combined jazz, soul, and classical influences with hip-hop. He learned beatmaking by watching DJ Premier and began experimenting with rap as a way of 'superhero-forming.' He attended Phillips Exeter and briefly studied music business at NYU before leaving to work in A&R at Rawkus, where he introduced Talib Kweli. He collaborated with the Fugees on 'Family Business' and 'Cowboys' and released 2020's Riddem Drive on Kweli's Javotti label.

Read at Pitchfork