Def Jam exec Shakir Stewart commits suicide

Shakir Stewart, executive vice president of Def Jam and one of the most powerful figures in hip-hop, died this weekend in an apparent suicide. Police reported that the man who signed Beyoncé was found in his bathroom at around 4pm on Saturday, suffering from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. He was taken to Atlanta’s Kennestone Hospital where he died later that day…

…Stewart had only recently taken over at the label, succeeding Jay-Z after the rapper’s departure in June. Stewart at the time called it his “dream job”. [Guardian]