Roommates… this one hits different. Hip-hop just lost a gentle soul, and Lauryn Hill is taking a moment to remember one of her earliest collaborators, John Forté. The Fugees-affiliated artist, who helped shape the sound of the ’90s with hits from ‘The Score,’ passed away earlier this week at age 50, leaving friends, fans, and fellow artists reflecting on his impact.
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Lauryn Hill Pays Tribute To John Forté As Investigation Continues
On Wednesday, Lauryn Hill took to Instagram to honor Forté, calling him “a gentle soul” and sharing memories of their friendship.
“I loved him, my family loved him… I remember meeting his mom with her sweet voice for the first time and walking New York City streets with him in full youthful fascination mode,” Hill shared.
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She recalled how the two bonded during the rise of hip-hop in the ’90s, “full of excitement and possibility,” and highlighted Forté’s rare mix of brains, bars, and soul. Police reportedly found him Monday afternoon at his home in Chilmark, Massachusetts. Chilmark Police Chief Sean Slavin confirmed there were no signs of foul play or an obvious cause of death. Additionally, the state medical examiner’s office is now handling the investigation.
Fugees Family Mourns John Forté’s Sudden Loss
Hill also reminisced about introducing Forté to Wyclef Jean and Pras Michel, which led to his contributions to the Fugees’ iconic album. “Forté was a gentleman and a scholar with a strong pen, deep soul, and kind heart,” she added. The unexpected loss has left the music community in mourning, with Wyclef noting, “This one hurts,” and Pras calling him “more than just a collaborator—he was family.” Lauryn closed her tribute with a heartfelt farewell: “I love you John. Rest in peace, gentle king.”
Tributes Pour In For Late Hip-Hop Icon
It looks like fans didn’t waste a second heading straight to Lauryn Hill’s Instagram comment section to mourn John Forté. Many praised Hill for writing such a beautiful, heartfelt tribute. Meanwhile, others left condolences for the late artist and his family. A few even shared their own memories and stories of how John touched their lives, showing just how far his impact reached.
One Instagram user @hey_koley wrote, “Surreal.. he was definitely a force L… Rest Up King.. 💪🏽😇🙏🏼🤲🏼💖”
This Instagram user @saulwilliams said, “So sorry for your loss. John was a beautiful soul 💔💔💔💔”
And, Instagram user @catpowerofficial commented, “🙏🙏🙏💐💐💐🩵🩵🩵💐💐💐🙏🙏🙏”
Meanwhile, Instagram user @themiamidon added, “what a beautiful way to write about someone, rest in peace“
While Instagram user @iamchuckbone shared, “🙏🕊️🙏🫡”
Lastly, Instagram user @itsyourlightthatlightstheworld said, “💖✨✨✨🕊️ eloquently written 🙏🏾”
