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Rapper/Producer John Forte Pardoned By George W. Bush

11/25/08, 9:05 am EST

Photo: Getty

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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Comments

harpo | 11/25/2008, 2:53 pm EST

Hey Mr. President….I hear O.J.is waiting attentively by the phone!!!!

Mac | 11/27/2008, 9:47 am EST

Wow. I admire Bush for giving this guy another chance. Let’s hope Forte uses it wisely.

By the way, RS – Forte wasn’t pardoned, his sentence was commuted. That’s a pretty big difference.

savannahblues | 11/28/2008, 11:11 pm EST

any blues forums here? Thanks

Kelvin Holt | 12/1/2008, 9:51 am EST

I was there in 1977 watching the incompetent one himself get busted for over an ounce of Cali in his car and then get driven home to the J.W. Walker compound!!!! HEY, welcome to PEKING

Jason | 12/1/2008, 2:40 pm EST

Why should Forte get a break? There are tons of people in federal prison for transporting narcotics. I don’t see them getting a commuted sentence. Oh wait, I forgot, cocaine is Bush’s drug of choice so I guess that means he has a soft place in his heart for coke dealers.

Miche | 12/1/2008, 5:37 pm EST

First of all, to all you haters if you dont know what you are talking about you need to shut ur mouth because John Forte’ is my first cousin and for the records yes he was set up so there for please hop off his nuts and fuk you

danopine | 12/3/2008, 6:09 pm EST

Hey Miche,

you being his first cousin has nothing to do with commuting his sentence. Looking forward to all the young Black men out there who have spent all of their young adult lives in prison being released and out of the hell they call home

jock | 12/4/2008, 8:08 am EST

hell, w’s dad, ronald regan, and oliver north ran drugs to pay for the contras in nicaragua. they bombed a press conferance to cover their tracks. so what is a little more in the family?

thought | 12/15/2008, 8:26 am EST

For those of you who may recall Kane West made a very strong statment this year indicating that Bush “did not like black people.” Perhaps this is a way for Bush to prove otherwise.

In any event, I wish Forte well and we should all be supportive.

martin | 12/22/2008, 10:31 pm EST

Y?

martin | 12/22/2008, 10:31 pm EST

Y?

2nd chance | 12/23/2008, 6:58 pm EST

Everyone deserves a second chance, it’s not like he killed anyone like OJ, totally different story.

TRex | 12/24/2008, 11:49 pm EST

I hear Obama will let O.J. run loose. He will probably make him apart of his cabinet.

arnita | 12/26/2008, 6:25 pm EST

Miche,

Even if, as you say, John Forte was set up, he was still willing to take a chance on getting busted, which, DUH, makes him guilty.

probly should’ve spent more time trying to keep himself on the straight and narrow, as opposed to trying to keep up with the hi-rolling, truly wealthy boarding school crew he ran with.

forte has always been arrogant. hope this jail stint taught him a lesson.

mberube | 1/8/2009, 12:33 pm EST

john forte is the fucking man and he’s nasty at rapping

EJA | 1/27/2009, 6:11 pm EST

There’s a lot of people in prison for similar non-violent drug crimes. So when do they get their sentences commuted? Do they need a note from Carly Simon?

I’m glad Forte got out of prison, but he is just a teardrop in the ocean of people who don’t belong behind bars for buying, selling or using drugs.

Prodigal | 2/3/2009, 12:00 am EST

No disrespect to Forte, but isn’t Mumia more worthy of a pardon?

tuna | 2/17/2009, 1:56 am EST

i met john in fci fort dix new jersey and he is a great guy that kept to himself, kept his nose out of other peoples business and i think that if anyone deserved a pardon it was john. he is really lucky that that he had that chance and that bush considered him over others. it sucks that there are still others in there that also deserve the chance; sometimes it comes down to who you know not what you know. good luck john.

showme | 4/19/2009, 4:46 am EST

all of you…stfu..!! the drug laws need to change..be lucky forte got out and hope the new pres looks at lighter sentences for others..
druggies do not need to be in prison with murderers and rapists…

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