John Forté, whose music and collaboration with artists like the Fugees gained him fame and critical acclaim, has died. He was 50.

After a drug conviction derailed Forté’s musical career, the rapper used his experiences to advocate for the reform of drug laws and the criminal justice system.

Forté, known for his work with the Fugees, was found dead at his Massachusetts home

Forté was found dead Monday in his home in Chilmark, Massachusetts. Chilmark Police Chief Sean Slavin indicated that authorities are still investigating Forté’s death, noting there were no indications of foul play. However, there was also no “readily apparent cause of death” when the musician was found.

In his 20s, Forté rose to fame as a rapper who collaborated with the Fugees, contributing to the group’s Grammy-winning album The Score (for which he also received a Grammy nomination) and Fugees member Wyclef Jean’s album The Carnival; Forté was noted for appearances on the Fugees’ single “Cowboys” and Jean’s song “We Trying to Stay Alive.” Forté released his first solo album, Poli Sci, in 1998, featuring the single “Ninety Nine (Flash the Message).”

Forté grew up in New York City and graduated from the prestigious Phillips Exeter Academy in New Hampshire. He attended New York University, leaving the school as his music career exploded. That career was abruptly disrupted when he was arrested in 2000 at Newark International Airport. He was convicted of conspiring to distribute over $1 million worth of liquid cocaine and sentenced to 14 years in prison. Musician Carly Simon, whose son, Ben Taylor, was friends with Forté, helped advocate for Forté’s release. The case eventually reached then-President George W. Bush, who commuted Forté’s sentence in 2008.

Forté’s second chance: music and advocacy

Forté viewed his early release from prison as a second chance. Blavity spoke with Forté in 2021 about the “reality check” of being incarcerated and what he had done after his release. He used his freedom to return to music and to his children.

“Through it all, to be their dad, that’s better than any platinum album or world tour or award show,” he said. Forté also told Blavity about his work to promote cannabis legalization and criminal justice reform. At the time, Forté traveled between Brooklyn, New York, and Martha’s Vineyard, Massachusetts, pushing for marijuana to be legalized for medical and recreational purposes and promoting Black ownership of legal cannabis businesses.

“We have to have more than just safe access to the product,” Forté explained to Blavity. “We need to see our involvement at every level [of the cannabis industry], from the top down to the bottom up.”

Forté leaves behind a legacy of music and reform. As a musician, he made his mark on the 1990s rap scene and was a part of one of the highest-selling rap albums of all time. As an advocate, he drew upon his experiences to try to change drug laws and promote the legal participation of Black entrepreneurs in the market for legalized substances.

People reported that Forté is survived by his wife, photographer Lara Fuller, 8-year-old daughter Wren and 5-year-old son Haile.