Jay-Z's record label successor found dead

Shakir Stewart, Jay-Z's successor as executive vice-president at Def Jam Records, has been found dead.

He died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound in Atlanta yesterday (November 1), according to US reports.

"L.A. 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," read a statement from the label.

"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 that had the privilege of counting him as a friend.

"Our hearts and prayers go out to his family at this very difficult time."

Stewart succeeded Jay-Z in June, after the rapper resigned from Def Jam in December 2007.

A graduate of Atlanta's Morehouse College, he previously worked at Hitco Music Publishing, where he signed Beyoncé, according to Billboard.com.

He was also an A&R consultant at LaFace Records from 2000 to 2004 and signed Ciara to the label.

Stewart recently signed up-and-coming artists Rocko and Karina Pasian to Def Jam.