Ze's life was one entrenched with violence -- thus is the life of many youths growing up on the rougher side of the proverbial tracks. But, at home, life was quite different. His father suffered from diabetes, and Ze--starting from the age of 10--was his primary caretaker, routinely reviving his father from diabetic comas and shocks with candy and juice. "It made me man up, made me realize life was short," Ze said. EMTs knew Ze on a first name basis due to their routine visits, but tragedy struck when Ze's father became unresponsive one morning. "He always wanted me to be street and book smart -- just so I never lost," Ze said. With a newfound strength, Ze excelled in sports, competing in basketball and becoming a standout on the NCAA circuit. When injuries began mounting, Ze found himself at a crossroads one-day when he began freestyling at a party and discovered a new talent: rapping. Ze released work online at a furious pace, some which fell upon the laps of hitters like Shaquille O'Neal and Ma$e, the former of which signed the young artist to his first record deal. Unfortunately, the move did not bear much fruit. The O'Neal signing turned Ze into a successful ghostwriter, which has scored Forté several uncredited platinum hits and tracks alongside luminaries like French Montana and Toni Braxton. Now, Ze is at another crossroads, this time in his own musical career where he seeks to leverage the talent granted to him.