John Forté, Famed Fugees Collaborator, Found Dead at 50 in His Massachusetts Home

Shock and heartbreak ripple across social media after the sudden death of a well-known hip-hop figure tied to the Fugees. He was just 50 years old.

John Forté, the producer and rapper who helped define the sound of the Fugees, has died. A powerful voice from the 1990s hip-hop is gone, and fans are grieving online.

Messages of sorrow filled social media, with many reacting in shock and disbelief.

"Ain't no way. It can't be true. His babies. His wife," one Instagram follower commented. "Omg, another shocking one, we need a break yo 🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾," another added. "Whaaaaaat! Noooo 💔🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾🥺," wrote another. On Facebook, a different commenter said, "Oh gosh how sad. Too young!!"

According to Variety, Forté was found dead at his home in Chilmark, Massachusetts, on Sunday, January 12, 2026. Chilmark Police responded to a call at approximately 2:25 p.m. for an unresponsive male. He was later pronounced dead at the scene.

Authorities confirmed there were no signs of foul play and no immediately apparent cause of death. The case has been referred to the Massachusetts State Police–Cape and Islands Detective Unit for further investigation.

Forté earned recognition for his work on the Fugees' Grammy-winning 1996 album "The Score," contributing to tracks like "Family Business" and "Cowboys."

He also appeared on Wyclef Jean's "The Carnival" and went on to release solo records featuring collaborations with DMX and Carly Simon. His final album, "Vessels, Angels & Ancestors," was released in 2021.