Def Jam label head Shakir Stewart found dead

Shakir Stewart, who recently succeeded rapper Jay-Z as head of Def Jam Recordings, has committed suicide, according to Billboard.com.

"L.A. Reid and all of us at Island Def Jam Music Group are deeply saddened by the passing of our dear friend and colleague Shakir Stewart," read a statement sent from the label Sunday.

"Shakir was an amazing man in every sense of the word. 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 that had the privilege of counting him as a friend. Our hearts and prayers go out to his family at this very difficult time."

Billboard.com said the executive killed himself on Saturday. No other details were immediately available.

The Oakland, Calif., native succeeded Jay-Z in June and had signed several acts, including Young Jeezy, Karina Pasian and Rick Ross.

He travelled often between Atlanta and New York for his job and was a graduate of Morehouse College.

"[I was] the guy who was the head of passing out flyers at seven clubs a night, seven days a week in 20-degree weather," he told Billboard this summer about his college days.

Before joining Def Jam, Stewart was the general manager of Hitco Music Publishing, where he signed Beyonce Knowles.

Def Jam, founded in the mid-1980s by Russell Simmons and Rick Rubin, launched many star acts, including LL Cool J, the Beastie Boys, Foxy Brown and Jazzy Jeff.

 

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