Def Jam executive Vice President Shakir Stewart was found dead in his Marietta, GA home on Saturday. Sources say 34-year-old Stewart shot himself in the head. His longtime girlfriend and infant son were in the home at the time.

Friends say his girlfriend found him around 4 PM in an upstairs bathroom after hearing a popping sound.

Stewart was transported to Kennestone Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

Friends and associates of Stewart’s said LA Reid, CEO of Def Jam, took a strong liking to the hardworking young man straight out of Morehouse college. After working for Noontime Records early in his career, Stewart never worked for anyone else in the industry but Reid.

Sources say Reid trusted Stewart and treated him better than his own son. Reid placed Stewart in top positions at his companies including LaFace Records and his publishing house HitCo.

When LaFace merged into Arista Records in 2000, Reid took Stewart to Arista with him. When Reid accepted the CEO position at Def Jam, he once again looked out for Stewart while his loyal LaFace employees were left to fend for themselves.

The source denied allegations that Reid may have pushed Stewart too hard to produce results after Jay Z left the position at Def Jam. The source said, if anything, Stewart pushed himself too hard.

Another industry insider said he doubted job stress was a factor. “people in the industry know he didn’t have job stress,” said the source. “He flew to New York First Class three times a week. He spent the weekends in Atlanta partying. What stress did he have? Jay Z had the same job and he wasn’t trippin’ at all! [Shakir] only had the job for four months! [Def Jam] is going to put it out there that he had job stress because they know people want stories. But he didn’t have any stress at all.”

Tastemaker and lifestyle consultant Kenny Burns, who met Stewart when they were students at Morehouse, said in a text message to SR.com, “I’ve known Shakir Stewart since I was 19 years old. We immediately connected because of our old school ways and values. My friend was a Man’s Man! They don’t make em like that anymore! He will be missed… We are all the same age. Cut from the same cloth! Very Sad! He is the first to go from our crew and will be missed deeply!”


Shakir Stewart poses with longtime friend Kenny Burns.  Photos: Wireimage/Getty