Shakir Stewart of Def Jam Recordings dies at 34

Shakir Stewart, the executive who succeeded Jay-Z as the head of the hip-hop music label Def Jam Recordings, died Saturday from a self-inflicted gunshot wound at his home in suburban Atlanta, police said. He was 34.

Stewart was found in the bathroom of his home in Marietta, Cobb County police spokeswoman Cassie Reece said. He was pronounced dead at a nearby hospital.

Police described the shooting as self-inflicted and would not say who discovered Stewart, executive vice president of the New York-based label.

The record label issued a statement 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 artists such as Rick Ross and Young Jeezy to the label before being named in June to the post once filled by Shawn “Jay-Z” Carter.

The Oakland native moved to Atlanta to attend Morehouse College, where he graduated in 1996 with a bachelor’s degree in marketing, his label said in an announcement for his promotion in June. He was based in New York and Atlanta.

Stewart previously worked with the Atlanta-based Hitco publishing company, where he signed R&B star Beyonce, and with Arista Records, where he signed R&B star Ciara.