RIP SSS 1974-2008

On Saturday November 1st, I lost my close friend, my protege, the guy who helped build Noontime and EVP of Island Def Jam, and a great person, Shakir Stewart.

And while death is hard to make sense of, I would rather celebrate his memory and his extraordinary accomplishments made in a much too-short life.

Please click on the below links to find some highlights from the friend I knew as Shake

Vibe- Shakir Stewart named Executive VP @ Def Jam

Business Wire- Shakir Stewart named Vice President at HITCO Music

Audio Interview with Def Jam EVP, Shakir Stewart

Urban Network- Interview with Def Jam EVP, Shakir Stewart

Thank you Shake.

A Memorial Service will be held on Friday, November 7th at 3:00pm
King's Chapel at Morehouse College
830 Westview Drive, SW
Atlanta, GA 30314

His family has asked that donations be made to benefit his children, Micaela & Sebastian. You can do this by visiting www.shakirsstewart.com and clicking the donate button, or by going through SunTrust bank. The contact person at Suntrust, Shonna can be reached by email at shonna.perdue@suntrust.com, or by phone at 404-240-2032.

Shakir inspired a lot of people and I wanted to close with a letter I found online. It was originally posted here

Shakir,

There are so many of us left here now, wishing we would've let you know how much we loved you, thinking that we should've told you how influential you'd been on our careers, and wondering what we could've done to help save your life.

We should have thought of this sooner.

It doesn't matter now that you have hundreds of friends and colleagues that would have done anything for you (personally, professionally or both), because our attention focuses on you too little and too late. I'm sorry that I didn't let you know that I am a friend of yours who would never have judged you, always would have supported you, and would have set the earth on fire to save you from yourself.

Who am I? I'm nobody but someone whose life you touched. I'm someone who is sincerely saddened at the thought of your final act overshadowing the phenomenal contribution you made to the lives of more people than you knew.

Damn, Shake.

Please rest easy.

Love,
Kelly.

---Chris Hicks, 4:22pm