By Nolan Strong
Island Def Jam Music Group (IDJ) has announced that Shakir Stewart will effectively fill the vacancy left by rapper/mogul Jay-Z, who announced his resignation as President of Def Jam in December of 2007.
Stewart, who was senior VP of A&R, was named Executive Vice President of Def Jam Recordings Antonio “L.A.” Reid announced today (June 3.)
Stewart will report directly to Reid and Steve Bartels, Chief Operating Officer of IDJ and will be responsible for all day-to-day matters regarding Def Jam.
His responsibilities include signing new talent, overseeing producers and guiding the creative vision of the legendary label.
"The bold young management style that Shakir has established at Def Jam is one of the major reasons behind the label's success today," IDJ CEO L.A. Reid told AllHipHop.com in a statement. "From his solid roots in music publishing, he has grown to master the world of hip-hop and urban music."
Stewart has worked closely with Reid and Steve Bartels in the past and helped guide the label to win 26 Grammy nominations during 2007’s award ceremonies.
"The past four years have been an unforgettable experience for me," Stewart said. "Having the opportunity to work with a brilliant music man such as L.A. Reid, along with the most amazing team in the music business, has afforded me the knowledge and inspiration to take the next step in my career and continue to amplify and expand Def Jam's stellar reputation in the industry."
Stewart, an Oakland, California native, got his start in the music business promoting shows for a variety of artists, including Nas, Luke, Too $hort and others.
Shortly after graduating with a Bachelor of Science in Marketing, Stewart formed Noontime Music and landed a joint venture deal with Epic Records.
He later signed on as Creative Director for Hitco Music Publishing, a company owned by Reid.
Stewart has signed or worked with a number of influential artists, including Young Jeezy, Rick Ross Destiny’s Child, Ciara, Outkast, Usher and others.