November 3rd, 2008
Polica have confirmed that 34-year-old Def Jam Executive Vice President Shakir Stewart commited suicide. He was found in a bathroom in his Atlanta based home on Saturday. He died of a self-inflicited gunshot wound. Stewart just recently secured his position at Def Jam, right after the departure of Jay Z in December. Stewart was instrumental in signing Def Jam stars, such as, Young Jeezy and Rick Ross. He is also credited with helping producer Jazze Pha to the forefront with his Noontime Entertainment production company. His fiancee, Michelle Rivers, released a joint statement with his family on Sunday ijn which she said that “over the past several weeks, Shakir’s bahavior was inconsistent with the man we all know and love. As much as we all tried to help him, Shakir was in deep pain and largely suffering in silence.” R.I.P