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."

___

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

Comments

[Waitingon4th]

"One of One" I don't think that was ego talking. I think that was loneliness. No money doesn't cure depression. It may give you enough assets to destroy yourself, or the stress of trying to be what everyone thinks you should be. It is very sad that he didn't want or couldn't ask for help. I suffer from it, too. May he rest in peace!

[Adrienne Williams - Huffpost Blogger]

As you know when you are in the throws of depression despair takes hold and you are not thinking about positives. he might have wanted help but felt he couldn't ask for it, or didn't know what help he needed.

[Aesthete]

He was rich and successful. However, if he was suffering from clinical depression, it's a condition that is not influenced by external circumstances like success, wealth, or other desirable accomplishments. It's related to some aberration in the individual's brain chemistry.

[nippyfan]

He probably knew some stuff he couldn't live with. Mo' money, Mo' problems.

[BDunne]

Careful. There are a lot of people who cared deeply about Skair -- don't show your ignorance.

[nippyfan]

It wasn't meant to be unsympathetic, I actually used to work in the entertainment business and understand how emotionally hard it can be to maintain with all the drama you'd never imagine going on in the music business. Tis why I got out.

So chill with your threats.

[SwingVoter]

I guess money does not bring happiness.

[tmbrinkley]

...I would disrespectively call on his community of friends not to respect his privacy...

...instead­...investi­gate thoroughly enough to get to the solution that lies deep in the problems that led to this...the­re was just to much going for this young man for it make any sense, or to be acceptable to just walk away,

---Nothing short of a complete tragedy and the only value that can come from it---let it serve as the fulcrum to save other peoples lives...th­at will be the most powerful response and the ultimate signature to his life;

-tmb

[strangerinthenight]

in other words.....­..........­.......

[buckfushlv]

it is appearent by your statement that you know little or nothing about the mind of a person who suffers from the illness that we have come to know as BI-POLAR.t­he makers for this type of mental illness are --the person has a difficult time riding out the highs and lows of day to day living.
in a high marker they are very charming, the life of the party, very intelligent,fun to be around
big spenders.

when the lows take over the following markers are--high risk behavior --addiction to drugs, sex, gambling, alcohol -- sometimes the bi polar has all the addictions. in the low points they are spinning out of sync with their partners, children and their career. the most common marker is
one is good more is better.the sad aspect of this mental illness is the bottom has to drop out
before help is sought.. many times bi polars are great actors and the makers are not appearent
to family memebers,spouses children and co workers.

one of the best ways to find out who might be BI POLAR is to have a mental health professional
adminster a test known as the MMPI, it is about 98% on the mark.

[deeppeace]

I didn't see any references - or, in fact, any indications - that he was bi-polar. It's a very specific diagnosis that shouldn't be confused with anything else. It's become trendy lately to throw around the term 'bi-polar' when describing someone's unexplained changes in behavior, but I have watched it hurt and kill too many friends of mine to dismiss their tortured lives so glibly.

[ohioan73]

Sounds like Depression. Untreated Depression causes thousands of suicides a year. Its always those folks who seem to have it all and then end it one day suddenly.

They DID NOT 'have it all". Those people are sick and need treatment just like cancer or any other disease. Its a pain you cant articulate.

RIP, Shakir. :(

[malcolm77]

I know his older brother. We are pretty cool and worked together for years. He always would brag about his little brother being in the music biz and how proud he was of him.. I only met him (Shak) once and he seemed like he had the world in his hands. Really sorry to hear this terrible news.


R.I.P.

[demfriend]

Please pay attention to those around you for you never know whose life you might save. Depression robs you of the ability to see outside of your pain and you believe you can make the world better off without you, that no one will miss you and that the imense pain you are feeling will never ease or get better. Suicide can be an impulsive thing or something pondered for a long period of time and planned out. Oddly some people who have been extremely depressed will have their mood lift when they decide to "do it". America as a whole has long made depression appear to be a sign of weakness instead of what it is, an illness, Our insurances deny needed treatment every day and sadly there is no one at the insurance who will even know or be concerned if the depressed person does die from the disease. Too often depression is an unbalanced system in the body which affects the mind and with the right medication can be lifted. It can take multiple anti depression meds when the insurance will only pay for one. America and the world must be educated to end the ignorance for far too many could be saved.

[Adrienne Williams - Huffpost Blogger]

Exactly, people who has the disease of depression might have been thinking about it for years. planning different ways to end it, it's not something you just do, most have thought about it in a great detail. This issues is not when he did it, but knowing the signs. Did he talk about not wanting to live? Did he say he's feels no hope? did he stop talking to his friends? Did he stay in his house for long periods of time? The signs are always there, but depression is so not on the scale as cancer that folks don't want to talk about it. If someone started losing weight, losing their hair you know something is wrong. Depression is like this... it can rob your soul and people around you most liking don't know what to do or know the signs. I'm glad folks are starting to talk about this on HP and not think he must had too much money, or the streets got to him.

[Dannydel]

While the rest of the world dies from hunger, disease and bombs, America has depression. Why? Well perhaps it is our lifestyle. Maybe our awful fast food diet. Could be that we spend too much time on our fat lazy asses watching t.v., playing with our I-phones or scanning potential hook-ups on mHorny.comy.com. I'd guess its a combo of these and more. I'd put a lot of it down to crass, competetive capitalism. Those that don't have, are obviously depressed, but those that do have? Why the hell should they be depressed as they hop into their Hummer, drop the kids at school, grab a latte, fight the freeway, deal with numerous empty headed, self important ladder climbers at work all day and then get home late, miss kising the kids goodnight, engage in superficial chit chat with the 'partner' and pop an Ambien? I'll tell you why. In the morning, before they kickstart another stressful day of the same old bullshit, there comes a time when they will look into the mirror. And if they are not properly medicated and shielded, they will gaze upon the image of a fraud.. As for me? Been there, done that. Which is why I savor each and every nan-second of time spent with my grandson.

[Obama 08]

Wow! That's was deep....bu­t all completely true!

[ejackson21st]

Acutally it has very little resemblence to what is true in terms of causes of Clinical Depression. The list of fast food, adult internet sites, Hummers, i-phones and watching TV are no more likely to cause a severe mental illness as they are to cause cancer, diabetes or alzheimer's disease.

Remember when boys were told if they did a certain thing too much they would go blind? That's about how deep Dannydel's conclusions in that email are in relation to reality.

[arunachala]

ya, thats well put, i mean this guy was on the top, making a lot of money, but i guess life has to mean more than that. hope his family is coping with it. its a tragedy.

[bjefrz]

Unless you have experienced depression first hand, it is hard to understand. And by depression, I don't mean situational sadness, or being very unhappy with a good reason (job loss, foreclosure, etc). I have watched people that I am close to be unable to experience the love that others feel for them.

Now imagine that your child or grandchild hugs you and tells you that they love you, but you don't FEEL it. Imagine that images of putting a gun in your mouth keep flashing in your mind's eye.

No matter what the cause, depression is real. It's not something that you can just decide to "get over." And making lots of money does not help. Because lack of money is not the cause.

[witchdoc]

Sympathies to his friends and family. To commit an act like that 2 days before Obama gets elected is still beyond me. I know Obama excitement can't raise the dead but I'm sure a lot of people overcame some form of depression because of him.

[Lurker50]

Seems like a lot of assuming to me...

[primeelite]

RIP Shakir, thoughts and prayers go out to his family. Have worked on a marketing project through Def Jam South with Shakir a few years back and he was one of the smartest guys I have ever met in business. The stress is overwhelming at times in such a high level of business, I wish someone could have helped him out before he decided to take his life.

[gifu]

All that bling don't mean a thing.

[BDunne]

what an ignorant thing to say.
(rolling my eyes at you)

[BigGuy]

Money can't buy happiness.
But it can buy relieve from life threatening depression and despondency. The omnipresent severe pain of the soul can be reduced to a slight ache rising up once or twice a week.

To seek that help means admitting that you are sad. Some individuals view that admission so destructive to their self-image that they choose death instead.

[SonofSolomon]

Some of the most miserable people in the world are wealthy. Stop worrying about what you don't have and focus on what you do have. It sounds cliche but it is the truth.

[BigGuy]

Some very wealthy people are miserable, but they need not be. Wealth provides the resources to deal with life threatening depression. A person may not get happy, but he can become relieved from feeling suicidal.

[MrWest432]

I still can't believe this news....I worked with Shakir at Def Jam for a few years....H­e was always a strong minded individual­.....This still shocks me but I do know that he may have been under an unimaginable amount of stress. After working at IDJ for 12 years I witnessed first hand the changes in the demands heaped upon us as lovers of the music.....­it got really unrealistic. I just can't imagine what would make him do this to himself and the business!

Rest In Peace Shakir!!!!

You WILL BE MISSED!!!!

[jemiltd]

Depression is a disease that knows no age, gender, class or race. You cannot pull yourself up by your bootstraps and there is no shame in asking for help,
DEPRESSION IS MY DIABETES

Blindsided.
Someone pulled the trigger and took aim,
Blowing me backwards and I fell. Again.
Into that darkness, where the water ebbs and flows.

Someone pulled the trigger and took aim.
Not intending to kill, just maim
Displaced anger, misplaced blame.
Cursed legacy dances with my pain.

Not intending to kill, just maim
Use your bootstraps, be more faithful, they claim
Mixing myths with miracles won’t make me regain
The me that I’ve lost, and yes, I’m still sane.

Use your bootstraps, be more faithful, they claim
Pardon me while I try to keep my head above water
In that lonely darkness, where it ebbs and flows.
Some days down to my shoulders, others up to my nose.

Pardon me while I try to keep my head above water
Depression is my diabetes.
From denial to acceptance, the road’s no less harder.
Perhaps understanding will give me some peace.

Depression is my diabetes.
Not a secret I should keep, but I must be aware.
I will find my way back to the light with no shame.
It’s a disease, the thorn in the side I must bear.

[goodmarina]

Wow ... thank you!

We need to bring to light the heartbreak of this disease called Depression. I have seen very young children go through incredible torment b/c of this horrible disease. Luckily, the medical community is more aware of what is happening among the young children. I fear that the 30-something and up generations are less aware and that there's still a stigma attached to depression -- especially among men.

Thank you again for so beautifully describing this painful illness.

[Adrienne Williams - Huffpost Blogger]

Thank you!! Depression is a massive issue, and I emailed Obama on this regarding the Healthcare (mental Health) Platform.

Depression is no different than cancer, diabetes and heart attacks. If you see someone who is down, low, are saying they want to end it, do not think this is a joke, call 911 and get them help! depressed people kill themselves more than any other disease!

[Classof89]

Thank you very much for this.

[jemiltd]

(con't)

Not a secret I should keep, but I must be aware.
Mustered courage to keep walking, with God right there.
As doctors with pills and all try to regulate
I try to stay hopeful as I wait and I wait.

Mustered courage to keep walking, with God right there.
One step, one foot, one day in front of the other. (Even when I just don’t want to.)
Part of the cure may require much pain.
If I don’t know the why, I’ll be back here again.

One step, one foot, one day in front of the other. (Even when I just don’t want to.)
I will find me again, I will see the sun shine.
I will do what I need to do to survive.
Depression is my diabetes.
(c) E. Joyce Moore

[justgran]

Thank you very much for this post.