Days after the death of Martha’s Vineyard musician John Forté, one of his most famed collaborators, Wyclef Jean, has responded to his passing.
Forté, who died Monday at age 50, collaborated with Jean on multiple albums, including Jean’s debut solo album, and “The Score,” the second and final record by the Fugees, of which Jean is a founding member.
“Rest in peace to my refugee brother, John Forté,” Jean said in a statement for the Globe. “One of the kindest legends I’ve ever met. A gentle giant with a warrior’s story. You carried pain with grace, and freedom with humility.”
“Thank you for always flooding my life with music,” he added. “Like clockwork at least once a month, there was a new track, a new idea, a new spark. Your creativity never stopped.”
As a producer, co-writer, and featured artist, Forté shaped multiple songs on “The Score,” including “Family Business,” and “Cowboys.” The album would go on to win a Grammy Award for best rap album in 1997, and was nominated for album of year. (Celine Dion’s “Falling Into You” ultimately took home the latter honor).
When Jean began releasing music as a solo artist in the late 1990s, their relationship continued on his debut LP “Wyclef Jean Presents The Carnival,” which featured Forté on the songs “We Trying to Stay Alive” and “Street Jeopardy”; Forté also co-wrote both tracks. One year later, Forté released his first solo album, “Poly Sci,” and Jean produced the song “Ninety Nine (Flash the Message).”
The final portion of Jean’s statement to the Globe directly references “We Trying to Stay Alive,” which mentions Forté by name in the lyrics.
“I know the angels are welcoming you with open arms, to a place where you’ll play guitar, rap, and sing a brand-new song,” Jean said. “We weep down here, but heaven smiles. And I can’t help but say it one more time, just like I did on our song: JOHN FORTE!!!!!!!!”
Jean echoed the message on Instagram, where he shared a video of them performing together.
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