John Forté
John Edward Forté (January 30, 1975 – January 12, 2026) was an American rapper and record producer. He is best known for being a member of the musical collective Refugee Camp All-Stars. He also worked as a producer on The Score (1996), which received critical acclaim and earned Forté a Grammy Award nomination. His collaborations include "We Trying to Stay Alive" (with Wyclef Jean), "Rumble in the Jungle" (with the Fugees, A Tribe Called Quest and Busta Rhymes), and "2 Bad" (Refugee Camp Mix) (with Michael Jackson). In 1998, he released his debut studio album, Poly Sci.
In 2000, he was arrested and charged with possession with intent to distribute cocaine and conspiracy to distribute; he was convicted and sentenced to the mandatory minimum 14 years after being found guilty. Forté received support from several notable figures, including Carly Simon, who became a close ally and helped advocate on his behalf during his legal defense. Forté's prison sentence was later commuted by President George W. Bush in 2008.
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