R.I.P.: Def Jam VP Shakir Stewart
In surprising and unfortunate news, Vice President of Def Jam Shakir Stewart was found dead of a self-inflicted gun shot in the head at his New York apt. around 8p Saturday night. Stewart replaced Jay-Z in the VP position just this past June. The Def Jam Music Group has put out the following official statement:
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. 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 who had the privilege of counting him as a friend. Our hearts and prayers go out to his family at this very difficult time.
Source
Shakir and Alesha Renee at Young Jeezy’s VIBE cover party this past July
According to Billboard.com:
Stewart succeeded Jay-Z at the top of the Def Jam ladder 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.
No details surrounding the apparent suicide have been given. Our condolences and prayers go out to the Stewart family. R.I.P.
OnNov 2, 2008 at 1:08 am (Quote) | Reply |
So Sad!! RIP
OnNov 2, 2008 at 1:09 am (Quote) | Reply |
Very sad….
OnNov 2, 2008 at 1:11 am (Quote) | Reply |
rip! fIRST!
OnNov 2, 2008 at 1:12 am (Quote) | Reply |
What a shame: nice looking man….. VERY SAD
OnNov 2, 2008 at 1:16 am (Quote) | Reply |
The Bay Area extends our condolences to family & friends of Shakir Stewart!
You’ll truly be missed..
OnNov 2, 2008 at 1:16 am (Quote) | Reply |
wow!..so sad!
OnNov 2, 2008 at 1:16 am (Quote) | Reply |
Wow-sad. All these lives being taken and so close to the Holiday Season. That’s going to hurt. Condolences and blessings to the family.
OnNov 2, 2008 at 1:18 am (Quote) | Reply |
this is so unfortunate! many prayers to the family..
OnNov 2, 2008 at 1:20 am (Quote) | Reply |
Damn whats really going on?
how sad 
OnNov 2, 2008 at 1:21 am (Quote) | Reply |
Wooow…. what is happening these days? sad news every day nw.. close to holiday season when we supposed to be wit loved ones? God protect us all… Amen… R.I.P
OnNov 2, 2008 at 1:26 am (Quote) | Reply |
RIP I hope the police confirm that there was no foul play involved. I know his family is hurtin. My condolences
OnNov 2, 2008 at 1:31 am (Quote) | Reply |
wow. I just can’t see how folks take their lives especially when it will effect family…I know they wouldn’t want their loved ones to suffer like that. You would think someone like him was living the best of that world. This is too much…
OnNov 2, 2008 at 1:49 am (Quote) | Reply |
RIP AND GOD BLESS HIM AND HIS FAMILY
OnNov 2, 2008 at 1:57 am (Quote) | Reply |
[quote comment="264400"]rip! fIRST![/quote]
Why in the world are you giving a first shout out when someone has died… show some respect!!!
R.I.P.
OnNov 2, 2008 at 1:59 am (Quote) | Reply |
Jay-Z took away his life. Jay-z is contagious.
OnNov 2, 2008 at 2:00 am (Quote) | Reply |
Many times when someone commits suicide it is the result of a mental illness such as bipolar disorder, clinical depression, and/or schizophrenia. Many african americans are suffering, because our community still doesn’t recognize mental illness as a real disease.. Let’s educate ourselves my people and lets reach out to those who are mentally ill without judging them.
OnNov 2, 2008 at 2:09 am (Quote) | Reply |
Sasha Fierce
On Nov 2, 2008 at 2:00 am | Reply | Quote
Many times when someone commits suicide it is the result of a mental illness such as bipolar disorder, clinical depression, and/or schizophrenia. Many african americans are suffering, because our community still doesn’t recognize mental illness as a real disease.. Let’s educate ourselves my people and lets reach out to those who are mentally ill without judging them.
You must work in the mental health field.(me too) Cause This is so true. Also its getting close to the holidays and most suicides happen in/around the holiday season.
May God be with his family and friends in this time of need.
OnNov 2, 2008 at 2:17 am (Quote) | Reply |
[quote comment="264417"]Sasha Fierce
On Nov 2, 2008 at 2:00 am | Reply | Quote
Many times when someone commits suicide it is the result of a mental illness such as bipolar disorder, clinical depression, and/or schizophrenia. Many african americans are suffering, because our community still doesn’t recognize mental illness as a real disease.. Let’s educate ourselves my people and lets reach out to those who are mentally ill without judging them.
You must work in the mental health field.(me too) Cause This is so true. Also its getting close to the holidays and most suicides happen in/around the holiday season.
May God be with his family and friends in this time of need.[/quote]
Yes I work in the mental health field and I feel so bad for my clients. There is still a huge stigma attached to mental illness and people are suffering alone. It’s sad. I hope a cure is found soon.
OnNov 2, 2008 at 3:26 am (Quote) | Reply |
I wonder what was troubling him that he had to take his own life?Committing suicide is serious.I hope his soul found peace with God because committing suicide is selfishness.My sister friend’s father hung himself and I was scared for her (he wasn’t black though, but still troubling situation).But may his soul rest in peace importantly.In these trying times, it seems like depression is the norm.I pray for him.
OnNov 2, 2008 at 3:36 am (Quote) | Reply |
RIP
OnNov 2, 2008 at 4:11 am (Quote) | Reply |
OMG Very sad news. My Prayers go out to his family.
OnNov 2, 2008 at 5:14 am (Quote) | Reply |
Suicide is a permanent solution to a temporary problem.
There is NOTHING God cannot solve in your life.
OnNov 2, 2008 at 6:22 am (Quote) | Reply |
R.I.P to him such sad news
OnNov 2, 2008 at 7:31 am (Quote) | Reply |
Wow! My heart goes out to his family, i will definintly keep you in my prayers. OMG! this word is in complete shambles. what is the world coming to! RIP
OnNov 2, 2008 at 7:35 am (Quote) | Reply |
What a shame, leaving his family to mourn.
OnNov 2, 2008 at 7:49 am (Quote) | Reply |
Wow, so sad. I dunno about y’all, but I’m ready for 2008 to be over-starting with this damn election!
OnNov 2, 2008 at 7:58 am (Quote) | Reply |
This is so sad and I’m still in shock..it happened in ATL though and not in New York. R.I.P
OnNov 2, 2008 at 8:17 am (Quote) | Reply |
Very sad news. I agree with the posters who mentioned mental illness and the stigma attached to it in the AA community. I had episodes of panic attacks several years ago, but was always to embarrased to discuss it with black people, because they always think your “crazy”. I went into a slight depression, because I couldn’t understand how I could be so normal and couldn’t control this anxiety that came out of no where. I was never suicidal, but it is easy for others to judge when you never been in the situation. Suicide may seem “selfish”, but that is the last thing that person is thinking about when they are in so much pain.
OnNov 2, 2008 at 9:05 am (Quote) | Reply |
RIP Shake! You will be miss.
OnNov 2, 2008 at 9:07 am (Quote) | Reply |
OnNov 2, 2008 at 9:23 am (Quote) | Reply |
[quote comment="264414"][quote comment="264400"]rip! fIRST![/quote]
Why in the world are you giving a first shout out when someone has died… show some respect!!!
R.I.P.[/quote]
I agree, so inappropriate. Rest In Peace Shakir.
OnNov 2, 2008 at 9:51 am (Quote) | Reply |
I wonder what the problem was… R.I.P.
OnNov 2, 2008 at 10:01 am (Quote) | Reply |
this is so horrible i just dont understand senseless acts..
OnNov 2, 2008 at 10:30 am (Quote) | Reply |
PERSONAL HEALTH-MENTAL ILLNESS-RELATIONSHIP-STRESS-LEGAL WOES-POSSIBLE PUBLIC EMBARASSMENT OF BEING EXPOSED~~~WHATEVER IT WAS TO CAUSE THIS YOUNG SUCESSFUL GUY TO KILL HIMSELF (IF SO) IS VERY SAD..I PRAY FOR HIS LOVED ONES CAUSE THIS IS TRULY A SAD YET SELFISH ACT..
OnNov 2, 2008 at 10:44 am (Quote) | Reply |
R.I.P. Shakir was a cool & humble cat. My condolences go to his family.
OnNov 2, 2008 at 11:14 am (Quote) | Reply |
This is truely sad and shocking news for me. I met Shakir on a few occasions and he never struck me as suicidal. He seemed like he was on top of the world and at his prime. I just feel as though police should dig a bit deeper, calling it suicide so quick makes me think if they really did their job right. My heart goes out to his loved ones.
OnNov 2, 2008 at 11:50 am (Quote) | Reply |
Good Morning All,
This is truly sad. Mental illness is very much a taboo topic in our community. We need to do more. I have a mentally ill sibling and honestly, there are days that I am at my wits end trying to help him! He will not take medication and not participate in therapy, etc. It is hard. Mr. Stewart had so much to live for and unfortunately, it was hard for him to see the light that was within him. I pray for all the families who lost so many loved ones to mental illness.
OnNov 2, 2008 at 12:47 pm (Quote) | Reply |
How sad.. RIP..
OnNov 2, 2008 at 1:44 pm (Quote) | Reply |
Just ask Rick Ross to find out what happened…He is a cop on Def Jam…He is already undercover as a rapper, so he’ll get his other cop buddies on this case asap!
OnNov 2, 2008 at 1:47 pm (Quote) | Reply |
May God Bless him and his family.
How do we know if it was depression?What if he was drunk and shot himself?And yes I still stand by what I said of committing suicide being selfish because I believe someone gave us life and just because whatever going in your life you couldn’t take it does not mean it’s going to solve anything by taking your life.It just cause more tragedy and drama.My family has a history of depression, none of them got treated for it, but they never took their life because they so inflicted with pain.I chose not to live like that because someone in this world got bigger problems than me.Everybody has problems, you can’t escape them, they don’t take a day to solve them.I don’t think we need to say “oh the black community doesn’t want to talk about it because we think we don’t have crazy people etc.” It’s just too broad.It’s deeper than that. Something just tells me that he may not been depressed, but you never know.We don’t know.We only can think of soo much.
OnNov 2, 2008 at 2:04 pm (Quote) | Reply |
[quote comment="264554"]May God Bless him and his family.
How do we know if it was depression?What if he was drunk and shot himself?And yes I still stand by what I said of committing suicide being selfish because I believe someone gave us life and just because whatever going in your life you couldn’t take it does not mean it’s going to solve anything by taking your life.It just cause more tragedy and drama.My family has a history of depression, none of them got treated for it, but they never took their life because they so inflicted with pain.I chose not to live like that because someone in this world got bigger problems than me.Everybody has problems, you can’t escape them, they don’t take a day to solve them.I don’t think we need to say “oh the black community doesn’t want to talk about it because we think we don’t have crazy people etc.” It’s just too broad.It’s deeper than that. Something just tells me that he may not been depressed, but you never know.We don’t know.We only can think of soo much.[/quot
I am not going to argue you with you on this, but since you seem to be taking what I said out of context, I will clarify again. Who are you to determine how one handles their problem? I am not condoning suicide, but I am sure most of these people think of their family, their friends, their colleagues, etc. The point is, their brain chemistry outweighs all of those people. I seriously doubt that you are a therapist/psychiatrist, so I don’t know how you can speak for all people, just because your family members chose not to do anything. Depression is not ” oh I feel really bad because of this one thing”, it is way deeper than that. People use the word loosely to describe petty issues and that’s why most don’t take it seriously. I don’t know what was behind his suicide, but I am not going to stand on a soap box and act like all he had to do was this and that and he would be fine.
OnNov 2, 2008 at 2:24 pm (Quote) | Reply |
[quote comment="264488"]This is truely sad and shocking news for me. I met Shakir on a few occasions and he never struck me as suicidal. He seemed like he was on top of the world and at his prime. I just feel as though police should dig a bit deeper, calling it suicide so quick makes me think if they really did their job right. My heart goes out to his loved ones.[/quote]
Interesting comment. I am a professional black woman who has considered suicide in my darkest hour. I was very depressed. People always talked of my achievements, my looks, my education . . . But inside, I felt very broken. And here lies the problem. When people see success they don’t realize how much success has “cost” the person. Today, I’m intentionally not at the top of the pyramid. I actually walked away from the offer to break through “the glass ceiling” because I knew it would push me over the edge. Success can be a lonely and difficult road. People pull at you from every side. And best you believe, others spend a great deal of time trying to break you down. It gets to be too much for some. Stewart was at the top of the pyramid. Best believe, he had many battle wounds in his soul while working to get there. And reality is that there is no such thing as “struck me as suicidal”. What exactly is suicidal supposed to look like? Don’t believe the myth that all depressed people walk around looking sad or crazy. Bottom line is that none of us knows what is really going on in a persons head. Don’t be fooled by expensive cars, clothes and life on the “A list”. We don’t know what happened in his childhood, what was going on in his personal life, what parts of himself he “sold” to be where he was . . . He was clearly depressed. And depression sometimes can be hidden. But at some point, it gets to be too much. And really, it’s not a selfish act. Those who remain behind, feel that way because they have lost. But that is a selfish outlook on their part. If it truly was suicide, he was in a lot of pain and he took the most drastic avenue. Hopefully he is in a better place now. Rest in peace Shakir Stewart.
OnNov 2, 2008 at 3:06 pm (Quote) | Reply |
This is sad. I wonder what kind of demons he was dealing with to make him take his own life. This deacon at my church did that a few years back and we all were clueless because he seemed so put together and he was a deacon. Sad. Prayers going out to his family.
OnNov 2, 2008 at 4:31 pm (Quote) | Reply |
This stigma that surrounds mental illness really needs to be stopped. And it’s not just in the black community, it’s society as a whole.
It may be easy to sit back and say that Mr. Stewart had everything to live for, but if he was suffering from an untreated mental illness, his success wouldn’t have cured him.
I mean, look at Britney Spears. That girl was on top of the world, but the bipolar disorder, left untreated, knocked her all the way to the bottom. Fortunately for her she is now on the right medications, has a good support system around her, seems to be climbing back up to the top.
My condolences go out to Mr. Stewart’s family, friends and colleagues.
OnNov 2, 2008 at 4:50 pm (Quote) | Reply |
[quote comment="264425"]Suicide is a permanent solution to a temporary problem.
There is NOTHING God cannot solve in your life.[/quote]
So TRUE!
OnNov 2, 2008 at 5:24 pm (Quote) | Reply |
I can appreciate everyone’s sincerity and luv in this situation. Sometimes people can feel as if they are alone even when surrounded by friends and family. RIP
OnNov 2, 2008 at 5:43 pm (Quote) | Reply |
All that statement from Def Jam makes me think is we need to appreciate people while they’re still alive, love people while they’re still alive, and tell them so. Whether mental illness is present or not, it does make a difference.
OnNov 2, 2008 at 5:46 pm (Quote) | Reply |
[quote comment="264560"][quote comment="264554"]May God Bless him and his family.
How do we know if it was depression?What if he was drunk and shot himself?And yes I still stand by what I said of committing suicide being selfish because I believe someone gave us life and just because whatever going in your life you couldn’t take it does not mean it’s going to solve anything by taking your life.It just cause more tragedy and drama.My family has a history of depression, none of them got treated for it, but they never took their life because they so inflicted with pain.I chose not to live like that because someone in this world got bigger problems than me.Everybody has problems, you can’t escape them, they don’t take a day to solve them.I don’t think we need to say “oh the black community doesn’t want to talk about it because we think we don’t have crazy people etc.” It’s just too broad.It’s deeper than that. Something just tells me that he may not been depressed, but you never know.We don’t know.We only can think of soo much.[/quot
I am not going to argue you with you on this, but since you seem to be taking what I said out of context, I will clarify again. Who are you to determine how one handles their problem? I am not condoning suicide, but I am sure most of these people think of their family, their friends, their colleagues, etc. The point is, their brain chemistry outweighs all of those people. I seriously doubt that you are a therapist/psychiatrist, so I don't know how you can speak for all people, just because your family members chose not to do anything. Depression is not " oh I feel really bad because of this one thing", it is way deeper than that. People use the word loosely to describe petty issues and that's why most don't take it seriously. I don't know what was behind his suicide, but I am not going to stand on a soap box and act like all he had to do was this and that and he would be fine.[/quote]
I don’t need clarification; I don’t think I was responding back to you,I would of quoted you lol.
I(me) said, I(me) still think committing suicide is a selfish act.My opinion = you do not have to agree with anything I(me) say .I(me) know about the chemical inbalances in the brain.My father is neurologist at UAB so I(me) know a little bit more than what I(me) learned in my bio classes.And I(me) speak based on experience since depression was the first thing that probably popped in everybody’s head since it was a self-inflicted gun wound.And if my family treated their depression?I didn’t fully elaborate on that and I won’t.I said they were depressed, but committing suicide was not the option.I don’t like being misquoted.
OnNov 2, 2008 at 6:33 pm (Quote) | Reply |
I agree @ Ageless Diva
Alot of our pain is never displayed. Its not really meant for others to see.
I hope is soul finds peace.
OnNov 2, 2008 at 6:49 pm (Quote) | Reply |
Dirty N words like oprah and bill cosby have played a major role in destroying the careers and decline of hip hop causing these boys, who fought their way out of the ghetto, to give up on life. Their blood is on their hands.
As the decline of hip hop continues, more and more of these bright young men will succumb to hopelessness. All because of dirty negroes jealousy.
OnNov 2, 2008 at 6:54 pm (Quote) | Reply |
I’m by no means perfect, however when printing or sharing news relative to the death of others our facts should always be correct and accurate:
Record exec Stewart dies from self-inflicted gunshot
By SONIA MURRAY, DERRICK MAHONE
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Sunday, November 02, 2008
One of the music executives who helped make Atlanta the Motown of the South died this weekend of a self-inflicted gunshot wound, Cobb County police said.
Shakir Stewart, the 34-year-old executive vice president of Def Jam Recordings, was found about 4 p.m. Saturday in the bathroom of his house on Lindsey Drive in Marietta, said police spokeswoman Cassie Reece. Reese said Stewart shot himself with a handgun but wouldn’t say who discovered him. Stewart was prounounced dead at Kennestone Hospital.
Enlarge this image
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Shakir Stewart in 2002 photo.Recent headlines:
Get-out-the-vote rally draws hundreds in Atlanta
Army ejects accused assailant of Jewish soldier
Record exec Stewart dies from self-inflicted gunshot
• Atlanta and Fulton County news Stewart ran the day-to-day operations of Def Jam, the best-known hip-hop label in the country. He was named executive vice president about five months ago, succeeding rap superstar Jay-Z.
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 said Sunday. “He was a one-of-a-kind individual. If you looked on his Blackberry [stamp] it said ‘One of one.’
“I mean, Shakir is the kind of guy who would get dressed up for a party none of us were invited to,” Hicks continued. “He had no doubt he was getting in. He was a ‘Where there’s a will, there’s a way’ kind of guy. Always.”
Stewart, a native of Oakland, Calif., came to Atlanta to attend Morehouse College. It was there that he and friends Hicks, Ryan Glover, Henry “Noonie” Lee and others started throwing parties and concerts around the city as Ivory Coast Entertainment.
Stewart, Hicks, Glover and others would go on to develop the Atlanta-based Noontime — a songwriting and production company that launched careers for its founders as well as Jazze Pha, and Grammy-winners Johnta Austin and Bryan-Michael Cox.
The first significant solo success on Stewart’s professional resume, however, was signing a pre-superstar Beyoncé to Antonio “L.A.” Reid’s Atlanta-based publishing company, Hitco.
Stewart was also an A&R consultant at Reid’s now-closed Atlanta imprint, LaFace Records, and Arista Records, to which he signed local Grammy winner Ciara.
Since 2004 he had served as vice president and senior vice president of A&R for Def Jam, during which time he signed Atlanta rapper Young Jeezy and Miami hip-hop star Rick Ross. Stewart split his time between Atlanta and New York.
“Having Shakir on your team is a good thing,” Jeezy noted before the release of his recent No. 1 CD, “The Recession.”
And the week of the July release of his controversial “Untitled” CD, Atlanta rapper Nas said of Stewart: “He gave me some confidence dealing with all of this. He’s about growth. …And you can never catch him off his game. In the club, the office, wherever. He’s always seeing the big picture. Great supporter!”
Late Saturday night a statement was issued from Island Def Jam Music Group: “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 who had the privilege of counting him as a friend. Our hearts and prayers go out to his family at this very difficult time.”
OnNov 2, 2008 at 9:33 pm (Quote) | Reply |
Sad, truly sad, but I don’t think that hip-hop is in decline and I don’t think Oprah or Cosby had anything, even remotely, to do with his death. And from Ageless Diva: thank you for your honesty, it really made me think, but I cannot excuse the actions of this man. He had two toddlers who will never know their daddy. This man obviously had sound business judgment, he could have passed that on to his kids. Now, they are at a disadvantage. Also, what message is he sending to them, that not even they were worth staying around.
OnNov 2, 2008 at 10:13 pm (Quote) | Reply |
@ Maxima
Suicide is an issue that you can thy to rationalize but I dont think its not meant to be understood.
OnJan 22, 2009 at 8:55 am (Quote) | Reply |
I can’t believe i am so late..i met Shakir back in 2006 when i was an intern for radio one. This is truly sad news. I can’t believe it.. he was so vibrant and fun to be around. Only God knows, however i hope he was forgiven at the pearly gates, and his soul be resting in perfect peace.