Radio Facts talked to Officer Reese at the Cobb County Police dept this afternoon and she confirmed the story but stated the police department does not disclose details in suicide cases. She confirmed it was a suicide due to a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head.
ATLANTA — Def Jam Recording’s executive that succeeded Jay-Z as the head of the legendary hip hop music label Shakir Stewart died yesterday afternoon (Saturday).
In Georgia, Cobb County Police Detective Bill Macauley says Stewart was taken Saturday afternoon to a suburban Atlanta hospital after suffering from a gunshot wound. Police found Stewart after responding to a call of a shooting at an undisclosed address around 4PM. No arrests or charges were made. Neither police nor the county medical examiner’s office released how he died.
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. He was found in the bathroom of his house on Lindsey Drive in Marietta, said police spokeswoman Cassie Reece. Reese said Stewart shot himself with a hand gun but wouldn’t say who discovered him. Stewart was pronounced dead at Kennestone Hospital.
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.’
Stewart’s long industry career included time as 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.
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Very tragic situation. Let us pray for his family as they will need the love and support of family and friends while they go through this difficult time.