Shakir Stewart, Jay-Z's Successor At Def Jam, Suicides

ATLANTA — The executive who succeeded Jay-Z as the head of hip-hop music label Def Jam Recordings died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound near Atlanta, police said Sunday.

Executive vice president Shakir Stewart, 34, died on Saturday, his New York-based label said in a statement.

Stewart was found Saturday afternoon in the bathroom of his home in the Atlanta suburb of Marietta, Cobb County police spokeswoman Cassie Reece said Sunday. He was pronounced dead at a nearby hospital.

Police described the shooting as self-inflicted and would not say who discovered Stewart.

The record label issued a statement Sunday on behalf of Stewart's fiancee, Michelle Rivers, and his family.

"Over the past several weeks, Shakir's behavior was inconsistent with the man we all know and love," the statement said. "As much as we all tried to help him, Shakir was in deep pain and largely suffering in silence."

Stewart signed such artists as Rick Ross and Young Jeezy to the label before being named in June to the post once filled by Jay-Z.

The Oakland, Calif., native came to Atlanta to attend Morehouse College, where he graduated in 1996, his label said in an announcement for his promotion in June.

He previously worked with the Hitco publishing company, where he signed R&B star Beyonce, and Arista Records, where he signed R&B star Ciara.

Christopher Hicks, a friend of 18 years and fellow music executive, last spoke with Stewart about a week ago.

"Whatever happened over the past 24 hours is not a testament to who we all know," Hicks told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution on Sunday. "He was a one-of-a-kind individual. If you looked on his Blackberry (stamp) it said 'One of one.'"

Def Jam called Stewart "a truly incredible friend and father who was an inspiration to not only our artists and employees, but to his family and the many people who had the privilege of counting him as a friend."

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Def Jam Recordings: http://www.defjam.com/

Comments

[phoenics]

I was so sad to hear of this. I went to school with Shakir - well, he was at Morehouse and I was at Spelman.. man we used to sweat him something fierce! I am so sorry for this loss and I add my prayers to everyone else's for his family and his fiancee. What she must be going through.

My Morehouse brother just saw him not too long ago! Wow - can't believe it.

[calleshakeapr12]

R.I.P. Shakir I will miss you so much!! I remember all the times we shared and no one will ever be able to replace you in my heart. Miami, New York, L.A. Vegas, St. Barths or Atlanta will never be the same to me. I know that even in heaven you'll be running sh*t. :) Hopefully the exact truth will surface because i know you were never that type of person and i know how much you loved Mikayla so you would never leave her stranded. I love you Shakir and I will always love you despite our ups and downs. May you rest in peace.

SSS
One of One

[winningticket]

May the Lord grant Shakir's soul the Peace that he couldn't find on this Earth.

[shaaronie]

Try a natural remedy of drinking 6-10 cups of green tea per day. I suffer from depression and found this to work wonders after reading online that scientific study said it was impossible to be depressed after drinking this much green tea.

[NancyCinNY]

PLEASE forget this remedy... my mom died by suicide after years of bi-polar/d­epression. She has a good decade on lithium but hated taking meds. She went off it, and "treated" herself with chamomile tea, etc. YOU ARE COMDEMNING SOMEONE TO DEATH WITH THIS FOOLISHNESS. Depression is treatable by skilled docs and other professionals. "Home remedies" are not the answer.

[meerkatpaige]

*nonjudgmental.

Sorry.

[meerkatpaige]

I would encourage anyone who is having thoughts of suicide, anyone who might be worried about a loved one having thoughts of suicide, or anyone who is coping with the loss of a loved one to suicide to call the National Suicide Hotline at 1-800-273-TALK.

It's free, confidential, and you can speak with someone who is an unjudgmental listener, warm, responsive, and empathetic to your concerns.

[lewes17266]

This is very sad. Depression is insidious. I am so sorry. Take care.

[SENATORCALLENBOWE]

THE SILENCE OF DEPRESSION IS NOT GOLDEN........

[afbmmg]

The pressures of the day are overwhelming. I knew this man. He was a good man. He actually gave me my first publishing meeting when he was first coming into his own at Hitco Publishing. I thank those of you writing comments in this section for your energy. His family can use it. It's not promised that you see the calender's page turn. Let's live and grab success in memory of those whom we admire and have lost.

Shak

~100~

[pilgrim7]

My heart goes out to Mr. Stewart's family. Been there. I admire all of you who have posted here and my heart and prayers go out to each of you. As Eleanor Roosevelt said, "The most important word in the English language is hope.” As long as you're alive, keep hoping and keep seeking. There is Light at the end of the tunnel. For me, it was the book of Job in the Bible and Job's words: Though He slay me, yet I will trust Him.

[pychicfakes]

It could a lot of things. Life in America is stressfull enough. Most people work 8-10 hours a day. We spend more time at work than with our own families. The 40 hour work week is too much. Not to mention you only get 2-3 weeks vacation a year so you work 50 weeks out of the year.

Speaking as an african american most of us do not seek couseling unless something drastic happens. Most of us don't understand the counseling process or are spooked out about going to shrink. Don't get me wrong prayer works...but it sets the stage for the task ahead.

I was just reading about El DeBarge having to pull two years in prison...d­rugs...but if you read about how tragic his life was you would automatically think...de­pression/B­i-Polar ....Bottom line Mr Stewart didn't have die and Mr. DeBarge shouldn't have be in prison..Some one saw the digns and did nothing ....

[guajiro]

Totally agree. My dad was semi-bipolar for all his life and it wasn't until he started getting the first signs of alzheimers that he was taken to a doctor that he was analyzed and given prescription pills for his bipolar condition. The change into a relaxed, normal human being was eye-opening. The excesses/ravages he made his body and mind do due to the condition had been incredible to watch for me as he tried and accomplished feats beyond what people with his background should have able to do. I currently have a friend that behaves in much the same way; erratic. His is much more pronounced and I fear for his safety and that of friends in his circle. After learning of it because of my dad I have spoken with this friend and I will again until he gets prescription pills and help. We can do our part to help. Thanks for sharing.

[Chlowina]

I have suffered from major depression several years and have taken 13 different medications. I have severe reactions to all of them, so there is nothing I can take. No magic little pill for me. But I have discovered something called CBT...Cognitive Behavior Therapy. I just ordered a workbook today from Amazon.

It is called "The Feeling Good Handbook" by David Burns. The reviews are very high and with a little work and determination, I will get better. I hope if anyone out there reads this may find some hope too from this workbook.

Blessings to those of us that are suffering. Depression is hell.

[bandillero]

Reading this and the comments bring tears to my eyes. I have suffered immensely for several years, the last 3 on meds that are turning me into a shell of myself. Last week after consulting with my Dr, I stopped all meds but had to confess to my wife of many years about my condition in case it turns out for the worse.

Please don't wish this illness on even your worst enemy. It is debilitating

[nurse4obama]

Please be strong and don't give up.

[Adrienne Williams - Huffpost Blogger]

Are you doing talk therapy? There are also other ways, if you are suffering from depression or bipolar disease think about reflexology or acupuncture, or along with the meds. I'm not an advocate of any meds, but there are some that need them. I think eastern meds has great benefits as well. go to Google and look up. "Depression and reflexology or depression and acupuncture.

[SUNIISMOM]

God bless you! Please do everything you can to feel better. My suggestions are change your diet, pray all the time, massage, yoga. For some of us it's a constant battle. I will pray for you. Please don't give up! Soroya

[TimeKoder13]

Yep, I dated the daughter of the head of the NY Board of Psychiatry back in the day...everyone needs someone to talk to, shrink, master, friend, whatever...RIP

[yhgtup]

Another sad ending of someone dealing with depression. My brother committed suicide. He was a warm, intelligent, man who everyone respected and came to for advice. He & his girlfriend went "down south" one weekend to visit her family. There was a drastic change in my brother's personality after they returned. He was withdrawn, & kept to himself. The girlfriend broke up with him, & he hung himself two months later. We tried to intervene to get him help, but unfortunately, to no avail. Anyone who notices a change in personality of loved ones, get them to a mental health professional, with the quickness, even if you have to enlist the help of others to physically put them in the car to get them there. Better to have them mad at you while you're still able to see them & touch them, than not wanting to "piss them off" & lose them forever.