Fugees' John Forte in 'Village Voice' on his pardon, new EP
Much respect to music writer Ben Westhoff and Village Voice music editor Rob Harvilla for getting together this week’s update on Fugees alumn John Forte.
The rapper, singer, and producer appeared on The Score and Wyclef Jean’s The Carnival, before getting caught with 31 pounds of liquid cocaine at Newark Airport in 2000. He started a 14-year prison sentence in 2001 and was pardoned by George W. Bush in 2008.
Westhoff details how Forte got caught, as well as Carly Simon and Orrin muthafuckin’ Hatch’s role in getting him out.
“[Hatch] is a brilliant lyricist,” Forté goes on, speaking from an 11th-floor lounge at his Union Square recording studio. “And I’m not just saying that. He writes in all different genres: pop, country, gospel. People actually record his music.”
Holy fuck.
Of course, dude’s got a new EP coming out this week, too. Cop it. [VillageVoice]
