BAY AREA LABEL EXEC COMMITS SUICIDE!!!
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this from CNN....
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."
RIP
see C&H dropped a statement....
___
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."
RIP
see C&H dropped a statement....
___
from the atlanta papers
Friend saw Def Jam exec ‘wigging out’ seconds before suicide
Shakir Stewart’s fiancee was concerned about his change in behavior
By DERRICK MAHONE, KAY POWELL
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Thursday, November 06, 2008
A close friend was trying to talk to “wigging out” record executive Shakir Stewart moments before he committed suicide Saturday, according to a Cobb County police report.
Herb Smith of Dacula said in the report that he had come over to Stewart’s Marietta home Saturday at the request of Stewart’s fiancee, Michelle Rivers, to talk to the Island Def Jam Records vice president about his change in behavior that concerned his fiancee.
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Monsignor Thomas K
Shakir Stewart, the 34-year-old executive vice president of Def Jam Recordings, was in the bathroom of his Marietta home, said police spokeswoman Cassie Reece.
Smith told police that he noticed a “behavioral change” in Stewart when he arrived at the house and that Stewart was “wigging out.”
In the police report, Smith said while trying to talk to him, Stewart began telling him to leave. He told Smith to go “back home to his wife and children,” according to the report, because he did not need to be at Stewart’s house.
When Smith stepped outside the house at 3860 Lindsey Drive to call 911, he heard a gunshot from inside the house, the report said. Smith told police that Rivers was in the kitchen at the time of the shooting. Smith found the 34-year-old Stewart on the master bedroom floor.
Rivers told police that she noticed “a change in” Stewart when he arrived home Oct. 31, but he wouldn’t tell her if anything was wrong. They went out for Halloween and Rivers called Smith after they returned home.
A private funeral was held Thursday, and Smith could not be reached by telephone. Autopsy results are expected in 12 weeks.
Last week, Rivers released a statement through the record label that read: “Over the past several weeks, Shakir’s behavior 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.”
Stewart made several local talent discoveries—including Def Jam stars Young Jeezy and Rick Ross—and is credited with helping to put the Atlanta music scene on the map.
Friend saw Def Jam exec ‘wigging out’ seconds before suicide
Shakir Stewart’s fiancee was concerned about his change in behavior
By DERRICK MAHONE, KAY POWELL
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Thursday, November 06, 2008
A close friend was trying to talk to “wigging out” record executive Shakir Stewart moments before he committed suicide Saturday, according to a Cobb County police report.
Herb Smith of Dacula said in the report that he had come over to Stewart’s Marietta home Saturday at the request of Stewart’s fiancee, Michelle Rivers, to talk to the Island Def Jam Records vice president about his change in behavior that concerned his fiancee.
Enlarge this image
Shakir Stewart, the 34-year-old executive vice president of Def Jam Recordings, was in the bathroom of his Marietta home, said police spokeswoman Cassie Reece.
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Smith told police that he noticed a “behavioral change” in Stewart when he arrived at the house and that Stewart was “wigging out.”
In the police report, Smith said while trying to talk to him, Stewart began telling him to leave. He told Smith to go “back home to his wife and children,” according to the report, because he did not need to be at Stewart’s house.
When Smith stepped outside the house at 3860 Lindsey Drive to call 911, he heard a gunshot from inside the house, the report said. Smith told police that Rivers was in the kitchen at the time of the shooting. Smith found the 34-year-old Stewart on the master bedroom floor.
Rivers told police that she noticed “a change in” Stewart when he arrived home Oct. 31, but he wouldn’t tell her if anything was wrong. They went out for Halloween and Rivers called Smith after they returned home.
A private funeral was held Thursday, and Smith could not be reached by telephone. Autopsy results are expected in 12 weeks.
Last week, Rivers released a statement through the record label that read: “Over the past several weeks, Shakir’s behavior 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.”
Stewart made several local talent discoveries—including Def Jam stars Young Jeezy and Rick Ross—and is credited with helping to put the Atlanta music scene on the map.