The artist, who contributed to the Fugees' album "The Score" which won best rap album at the Grammy Awards in 1997, died at his home on Monday, January 12.

The hip-hop world is in mourning. John Forté, known for his collaborations with the Fugees and Wyclef Jean, died at his home at the age of 50 on Monday, January 12. The American music industry publication Variety learned of his death from the Massachusetts State Police, who confirmed it after being called to the scene for an unconscious man.

The investigation has been turned over to the Massachusetts State Police Detective Unit, but authorities have not found any evidence of foul play. The cause of death has not yet been determined.

A Brooklyn native, John Forté grew up playing the violin and was best known for his contribution to the album *The Score* , which launched the Fugees to fame and won Best Rap Album at the 1997 Grammy Awards. He appeared on several tracks, including " Family Business" and "Cowboys ," as well as songs on Wyclef Jean's album *The Carnival *. He also released several solo projects, such as his 2021 album, * Vessels, Angels & Ancestors *.

After the release of his first album, the artist was arrested at Newark Airport in 2000 for accepting a briefcase of cocaine and sentenced to a mandatory minimum of 14 years in prison. After recording an album during his pretrial detention, he was finally released in late 2008, thanks to a commutation of his sentence by President George W. Bush. This allowed him to resume his music career, notably writing the first anthem for the Brooklyn Nets basketball team.

In 2024, he stated that he was working on the music for HBO's Eyes on the Prize series and revealed that he was making a film about his own life.