Lauryn Hill has publicly honored the life and legacy of John Forté following his sudden death at age 50 earlier this week. Forté, a Grammy-nominated musician, producer, and longtime creative partner of the Fugees, was found dead at his home in Chilmark, Massachusetts on January 12. Authorities reported no signs of foul play, and the cause of death remains under investigation by the state medical examiner.

In an Instagram tribute shared on January 14 and documented across multiple outlets, Hill reflected on her early friendship with Forté, saying she could not recall exactly when they first met but that they became close soon after. She wrote that she “loved him,” and that her family did too, recalling moments walking the streets of New York City together during the formative years of hip-hop’s rise. Hill described Forté as a “gentle soul,” “gentleman and a scholar with a strong pen, deep soul, and kind heart,” and remembered meeting his mother, whom she described fondly.

Hill also recounted introducing Forté to fellow Fugees members Wyclef Jean and Pras Michel, an introduction that led to his place in the Refugee Camp All Stars and his contributions to the Fugees’ critically acclaimed work. In her message, she noted that they had reconnected during the recent Mised-Fugees Tour and had been in contact just weeks before his passing. She expressed profound sorrow, writing that the loss was “unexpected and surreal” and that her “heart aches” for his family, including his wife and two children.

Forté’s career spanned influential collaborations on the Fugees’ 1996 album The Score and work with Wyclef Jean on The Carnival. He also released his own solo music and remained active in the music community throughout his life. Tributes from peers described him as not just a collaborator but family, with Wyclef Jean publicly mourning the loss of his “Refugee brother.”