JOHN FORTÉ
MEDIA RESOURCES
ALBUM ART
PREVIOUS ALBUM RELEASE
RIDDEM DRIVE (2020)
BIO
John Forté is a Grammy-nominated recording artist, songwriter, activist, and filmmaker. He rose to prominence for his contributions to The Fugees' multi-platinum album, The Score, where he wrote and produced songs. He continued his work with Wyclef Jean, solidifying his early impact on the music scene.
Over the past two decades, Forté has established a diverse career. He has released four solo albums: Poly Sci (1998), I, John (2002), Riddem Drive (2020), and Vessels, Angels & Ancestors (2021). In addition to his music, he has produced feature documentaries, including "The Russian Winter" (Tribeca Film Festival, 2012) and "Brooklyn Castle" (SXSW, 2012).
Forté's work extends into film scoring. He composed the music for "Kerouac’s Road: The Beat of a Nation" (UNIVERSAL / VENTURELAND, 2025), directed by Ebs Burnough. He also scored the 6-part series "Eyes on the Prize III" (HBO / TRILOGY, 2024), executive produced by Dawn Porter, and his music has been featured in Porter's "Bree's Way: Promise, Witness, Remembrance" (MTV FILMS, 2021), Viola Davis’s "The Last Defense" (ABC, 2018), "Brooklyn D.A." (CBS, 2013), and the Emmy-nominated "Momentum Generation" (HBO, 2018). Furthermore, he created The Brooklyn Nets' inaugural theme song and contributed to various fashion shows.
Michelle Obama recognized Forté's music by featuring "Being is Believing" on her playlist for "The Michelle Obama Podcast." He served as the recording engineer for her inaugural podcast episode featuring Barack Obama and later performed at President Obama's 60th birthday reception.
A dedicated advocate for criminal justice reform, Forté has performed at The Obama White House on issues of mass incarceration. He has supported organizations such as Time Done, the Schools Not Prisons tour, Vote for Justice, and Californians for Safety and Justice’s Progress not Prisons campaign. He currently advises the Transformational Prison Project.
Forté is a globally-touring speaker and performer renowned for his insights gained from unique life experiences and dedication to social justice reform. A graduate of Phillips Exeter Academy, he also briefly attended NYU and the London School of Economics. He currently resides on Martha’s Vineyard with his children, Wren Zazie and Haile.
