Rapper/Producer John Forte Pardoned By George W. Bush

The Fugees producer John Forte was among those pardoned yesterday by still-President George W. Bush. Forte, who also has two solo albums as a rapper, was busted back in 2000 for carrying two suitcases filled with over $1.4 million in liquid cocaine through Newark International Airport. He was convicted on intent to distribute charges and given the mandatory minimum 14 years in prison. That is, until W. pardoned him. Forte will be released on December 22nd, but will still spend the remaining of his sentence on probation. Among those who rallied for Forte's early release were Carly Simon and her son Ben Taylor, who was reportedly best friends with Forte, as well as Senator Orrin Hatch. Forte is best known for producing two tracks on the Fugees' The Score and appearing on Michael Jackson's Blood on the Dance Floor. Be sure to check out the exclusive interview with Forte below, which he gave to Rolling Stone from his prison cell.

Related Stories:
• John Forte's Rap: An Exclusive Jailhouse Interview
• Album Review: John Forte, I, John
• Album Review: John Forte, Poly Sci
• Album Review: The Fugees, The Score

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Song Stories

“All Along the Watchtower”

The Jimi Hendrix Experience | 1968

Jimi Hendrix got hold of Bob Dylan's early John Wesley Harding tapes and in late 1967 recorded a version of "All Along the Watchtower" with the Experience in London. Dissatisfied with that first development, Hendrix brought those tapes with him to New York in early 1968 when he began work on Electric Ladyland. Eddie Kramer, Hendrix's engineer at the time, told Rolling Stone that Hendrix "was still looked upon by his basically white audience as the mammoth black guitar hero. There was a constant fight within him to expand himself." Hendrix's successful take on Dylan's work has long been recognized by the songwriter. "I liked Jimi Hendrix's record of this and ever since he died I've been doing it that way," Dylan wrote in the liner notes to his Biograph box set. "Strange how when I sing it, I always feel it's a tribute to him in some kind of way."

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