Jay-Z's Def Jam Successor Shakir Stewart 'Found Dead'

Shakir Stewart, the man who succeeded US rapper Jay-Z as executive Vice President at Def Jam records, has been found dead, according to US media reports.

Stewart is understood to have died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound. There are no other details available at this time.

The Californian took over from the rapper in June and was responsible for signing the likes of Rick Ross and Young Jeezy.

According to Billboard, Stewart also signed R&B star Beyonce, Jay-Z’s wife, to Hitco Music Publishing.

Speaking to the magazine when he took over at Def Jam, Stewart said he wanted to find "new, young executives ... the hot executive who's 21, 22 years old and has a serious passion for music and the desire to work 27 hours a day.”

A statement from Def Jam described Stewart as an "amazing man in every sense of the word".