John Forte

Ask John Forté why he called his Refugee Camp/RuffHouse/Columbia Records debut album Poly Sci and the rapper/producer is quick to respond. “We get our degrees in the streets and we get our degrees in school. Poly Sci represents the balance between the institution of academia and the institution of the streets.”

Poly Sci is all about keeping that balance, kicking it with the boys and then laying down intricate, literate rhymes drawing inspiration from the hood and Fyodor Dostoyevsky. It’s about keeping it real by being true to who you are and where you come from and knowing that being hard isn’t as important as being yourself. And being yourself means never taking crap from other people. Poly Sci features the hit single “Ninety Nine (Flash the Message),” which takes the New Wave novelty song “99 Luftballoons” and spins it on its ear. “That was Wyclef’s idea, gotta hand that to him,” John says, “and I’m very glad it didn’t turn out to be some blatant remake.”

11 of the 14 tracks on Poly Sci were produced by John Forté; on selected tracks Forté received production assistance from Minnesota, Salaam Remi, and Wyclef Jean. Guest artist on the album include DMX, Jeni Fujita, Fat Joe, and the Fugees’ Wyclef and Pras. Emanating from the distinctive sensibility of John Forté, Poly Sci has intelligence, beats, attitude, skills, and a keen focus. Poly Sci is the hip hop dissertation John Forté has been researching his entire life.

As a member of the Refugee All Stars, John has written, performed and produced tracks on the Fugees’ multiplatinum international smash The Score and Wyclef Jean’s solo album Wyclef Jean Presents The Carnival featuring Refugee All Stars; John was one of the highlights of the Fugees SRO concerts around the world. John’s also made numerous memorable cameos in videos, among them, Wyclef’s “We Trying To Stay Alive” and the remix version of “Gone Till November.” Over the past couple of years, John’s also done a little sumpin sumpin on his own, releasing two underground singles (one with legendary turntable wizard Funkmaster Flex), heading up the A&R department at a indie record label and in general being in the mix during the most vibrant and productive era of East Coast hip hop.

A totally self-taught engineer and producer(he also plays classical violin) and an ambitious hip hop natural (he got his break in the music business simply by making phone calls to labels and convincing them that he had the goods), John Forté has a background that is as eclectic as the brand of hip hop he unleashes. “I had a definite vision with this CD,” John says softly and his vision has its foundation in Brooklyn.

One of two kids raised by single mom, John was born and grew up in Brownsville. A good student, John attended public schools until high school when he was awarded a full academic scholarship to the prestigious Philip Exeter Academy. John recalls that when he first looked at the Exeter brochures, “All I could think of was that sitcom ‘The Facts Of Life.’”

Coming from a gritty environment like Brooklyn to the relative calm of New Hampshire was a jarring experience. “I totally went through culture shock,” John recalls. “Plus I was also kind of alienated.” Yet with the sort of determination and innate interpersonal skills that have always driven him, John broke down barriers and found a place for himself. “Those years were amazing because to this day,” he says. “I still talk to people I met all over the world. It exposed me to a whole other reality. The cultural diversity at Exeter was something I wasn’t going to get in Brownsville. I loved it.”

Upon graduation John moved back home where he began to take steps integrating his two disparate worlds into one creative force. “I don’t hide the fact that I went to this prep school and my boys back home knew this and in fact,” he pauses, “they kinda respected me for having that