John Forté, the Grammy-nominated musician and producer best known for his work with the Fugees, has died at the age of 50.
According to the Associated Press, Forté was found dead on Monday (January 12) in his home in Chilmark, Massachusetts.
Local police said there were no signs of foul play or a “readily apparent cause of death.” The case is being investigated by the state medical examiner’s office.
Forté is survived by his wife, photographer Lara Fuller, and two young children.
As the Martha Vineyard Times pointed out, the Refugee Camp All-Stars member suffered a “serious health setback” last year when he was hospitalized following a seizure. Since then, he had reportedly been taking seizure medication.
A musical prodigy who grew up in New York City, John Forté got his start in the industry in the 1990s working as an A&R at Rawkus Records, soon after which he met Lauryn Hill.
At just 20 years old, he co-wrote and produced several songs on the Fugees’ Grammy-winning 1996 debut The Score — one of the best-selling rap albums of all time — and went on to contribute to Wyclef Jean‘s The Carnival.
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