- John Forté
John Forté (born 1975 in
Brooklyn, New York ; no relation to Anthony "Rappin' 4-Tay " Forté) is a rapper and producer. He is a graduate ofPhillips Exeter Academy . Forté is currently serving prison time for smuggling cocaine.Forté began his professional music career when he was introduced to
The Fugees byLauryn Hill in the early 1990s. He co-wrote and produced two songs on their multi-platinum and Grammy-winning 1996 album, "The Score". After the group broke up in 1997, Forté released his debut solo album, "Poly Sci " in 1998, which was produced byWyclef Jean .Legal troubles
In 2000, Forté was arrested at Newark International Airport and charged with possession with intent to distribute cocaine and conspiracy to distribute after accepting a briefcase containing $1.4 million worth of liquid
cocaine . [cite news |title=Producer in court for drug charges|url=http://media.www.thebatt.com/media/storage/paper657/news/2001/08/29/Statelocal/Producer.In.Court.For.Drug.Charges-512713.shtml |publisher=thebatt.com |date=2001-08-29 |accessdate=2007-11-11] While on trial and under house arrest, he completed a second album, "I, John ". He was convicted and sentenced to the mandatory minimum 14 years after being found guilty of possession of 31 pounds of liquid cocaine with intent to distribute. [cite news |title=John Forte's Rap|url=http://www.rollingstone.com/news/story/5938799/john_fortes_rap |publisher=Rolling Stone |date=2002-08-27 |accessdate=2007-11-11] He is presently incarcerated at Fort Dix inNew Jersey . Forté had previously metCarly Simon and her son (withJames Taylor ), Ben Taylor, through Taylor's cousin who attended Phillips Exeter Academy with Forté. Both mother and son have been advocates on Forte's behalf, believing he did not receive a fair trial, and are fighting for an appeal of the mandatory minimum drug laws that remove a judge’s discretion in a case. [cite news |title=Mandatory Minimum Sentence Changes a Life|url=http://abcnews.go.com/Primetime/story?id=356651&page=1 |publisher=ABC News |date=2004-12-23 |accessdate=2007-11-11] Simon has appeared on numerous American television programs, including ABC's "Primetime," advocating this legal step.Fact|date=December 2007Discography
* "
Poly Sci " (1998)
* "I, John " (2002)References
External links
* [http://www.freejohnforte.com John Forté's website, on which he posts to a blog]
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