Rapper John Forté, Fugees collaborator and Grammy nominee, found dead in his home at the age of 50

John Forté is no more. The American rapper and producer was found dead on the afternoon of Monday, January 12, at his home in Chilmark, Massachusetts, police said. Nominated for a Grammy Award and known notably for his work with the Fugees and the Refugee Camp All-Stars, he died at the age of 50.

Chilmark Police Chief Sean Slavin said in a statement that there were no signs of foul play or an obvious cause of death, according to the Associated Press. The case is being investigated by the state medical examiner’s office, Sean Slavin said.

Born in New York in 1975, John Forté was a child musical prodigy who rose to prominence when he was just 20 years old for co-writing and producing several songs on the Fugees’ Grammy Award-winning album “The Score.” He also collaborated on “The Carnival,” a solo album by Grammy-nominated Fugees member Wyclef Jean. Multi-instrumentalist and rapper, John Forté has also released solo albums such as “Poly Sci” (1998) and “I, John” (2002).

He made headlines in 2000 after being arrested at Newark International Airport (United States) with a briefcase containing $1.5 million in liquid cocaine. Sentenced to 14 years for drug trafficking and cocaine possession, his sentence was commuted to seven years by President George W. Bush, who pardoned him at the end of his second term in November 2008.