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Home > Atlanta Music Scene > Archives > 2008 > November > 02
Sunday, November 2, 2008
Shakir Stewart:1974-2008
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
This weekend the Atlanta music scene lost an executive instrumental to its development as a Motown of the South, and who most recently ran the day-to-day operations at the best known hip-hop label in the country.
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 Marietta home, said police spokeswoman Cassie Reece. Reece said Stewart shot himself with a handgun but wouldn’t say who discovered him. Stewart was pronounced dead at Kennestone Hospital.
Stewart was named executive vice president of Def Jam just five months ago, succeeding hip-hop mogul Jay-Z.
Late Saturday night a statement was issued from Island Def Jam Music Group: “LA 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.”
And Sunday evening Stewart’s family and fiance, Michelle Rivers, released this statement: “We would like to thank Shakir’s friends for the tremendous outpouring of love and support we have received during this difficult time. It has helped us to cope with our overwhelming grief and sadness.
It is difficult to express or explain in words what led to the tragic occurance on Saturday. 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.
Please remember Shakir for who he was….a wonderful father, partner, son and friend.”
Stewart, a native of Oakland, Calif., came to Atlanta to attend Morehouse College. It was there that he and friends Christopher 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 company Noontime — launching ground for such songwriting, production and executive talents as 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 Beyonce to Reid’s Atlanta-based publishing company, Hitco.
“Basically, I’m the hook-up man, ” he explained to the AJC in 2000 (when he is pictured above, in the back on the left). “I do whatever I need to do to enhance the correct exposure for my client. But I’m also part Les Brown, motivational speaker. I energize my clients to do their best work.”
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 senior vice president of A&R for Def Jam, and vice president, during which time he signed Atlanta rapper Young Jeezy and Miami hip-hop star Rick Ross.
And when Stewart earned his most recent executive title, he was excited when he talked to the AJC about the challenge; if not reluctant to be looked at as “the guy filling Jay-Z’s shoes”: “I don’t really say ‘I’m replacing Jay-Z’. He’s a personal friend. He’s a legend. He’s an icon. But obviously there was a void at the label when he left, and I have accepted that role to lead the company into the future, with L.A. Reid.”
In the credits of his CD “Trilla” Ross thanks “My man Shakir Stewart ‘the deal closer’ ”
“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!”
Sunday afternoon Hicks hoped aloud that people would focus on things like that — how his friend of 18 years lived.
“Whatever happened over the past 24 hours is not a testament to who we all know,” said Hicks, who last spoke with Stewart (pictured above at far left, behind Ludacris) about a week ago. “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.”
Any memories of or condolences for Stewart that you would like to share here, are welcomed.
