Def Jam Executive VP Shakir Stewart Commits Suicide

A sad story to end the day with not many details available yet, Def Jam executive vice president Shakir Stewart committed suicide and was found dead today.  According to reports, he died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

Stewart, who began his career in the 1980s promoting concerts for Too Short, Nas and Scarface,replaced Jay-Z at the top of the Def Jam in June and also retained his duties as senior VP of A&R at Island Def Jam.  The Oakland, Calif., native signed such artists as Rick Ross, Young Jeezy and newcomer Karina Pasian.

Stewart cut his teeth as a music executive at Hitco Music Publishing, where he was creative director and later senior VP of creative/GM and signed Beyonce Knowles.

Even before he gained a rep for promoting rap concerts during his Morehouse College days, Stewart was “the guy who was the head of passing out fliers at seven clubs a night, seven days a week in 20-degree weather,” he told Billboard this summer.

Stewart said at the time it was his goal to help develop “new, young executives … The hot executive who’s 21, 22 years old and has a serious passion for music and the desire to work 27 hours a day. That’s where I was at that time in my life. And that’s who I’m looking to mentor. I don’t see many people like that. Instead, I see a lot of kids who want to live the lifestyle but don’t want to put in the work and do what it takes.”

Our thoughts and prayers are with his family and friends during this difficult time.