Trendy Reel

Def Jam executive VP Shakir Stewart reportedly committed suicide today (Nov. 1) in Atlanta, according to sources. No other details were available at deadline.

“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 sent from the label today. “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 at the top of the Def Jam ladder in June and also retained his duties as senior VP of A&R at Island Def Jam. The Oakland, Calif., native signed such artists as Rick Ross, Young Jeezy and newcomer Karina Pasian.

Stewart cut his teeth as a music executive at Hitco Music Publishing, where he was creative director and later senior VP of creative/GM and signed Beyonce Knowles.

Even before he gained a rep for promoting rap concerts during his Morehouse College days, Stewart was “the guy who was the head of passing out fliers at seven clubs a night, seven days a week in 20-degree weather,” he told Billboard this summer.

Stewart said at the time it was his goal to help develop “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. That’s where I was at that time in my life. And that’s who I’m looking to mentor. I don’t see many people like that. Instead, I see a lot of kids who want to live the lifestyle but don’t want to put in the work and do what it takes.”

Billboard

~Check out Beyonce’s new single Like a Boy officially released today. Also released is her second single Single Ladies. The Grammy Award winner’s third solo album is in stores November 18th. Also the singer opens up a little about her personal life which has always been off limits in the upcoming issue of Essence Magazine

~Travis Barker who is recovering from surviving a fatal plane crash gives his first interview post trauma to Us Weekly. The other survivor DJ A.M. will have a benefit concert in his name held on October 14th.

~Check out video of Grammy Award winner John Mayer at Berklee College of Music in Boston giving a lecture to attending students. The Berklee alumni will be there the remainder of the week.

Hey,

So I hear that the 2008 MTV Video Music Awards are being held September 7, 2008 in Los Angeles. Cool. Ahh I remember last time you were out west; Aerosmith, Green Day rocker Tre’ deciding to climb the Universal globe while Kurt Loder looked in horror and Marilyn Mason’s ass cheeks. Good Times. Anyway, wouldn’t it be cool MTV if John and Fall Out Boys play “Beat It” live on the show? Do you hear that John and Fall Out? Beat It live, so I can see you, John shred. So what if MTV is probably still figuring out who is going to host. Early bird catches the worm right?

Tis is all,

Trendy

Oh and for those out in the internets who don’t know what a John Mayer, Fall Out Boy, or Beat It is here is videos of the Original by Michael Jackson featuring Eddie Van Halen and the redo by Fall Out Boy featuring John Mayer Oh and for good measure Eddie performing live with Michael. Now if only I didn’t procrastinate and got my John Mayer tickets for this weekend on time before they were all gone. Whole other story.

Beat It (The Original)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f_8bFwDdISM

Beat It (2008)

Beat It live w/Eddie Van Halen

If you missed the live show Tuesday night, it re-airs tonight @ 8 p.m. on B.E.T.

In almost particular order: (I am not hating, just telling like it is.)

Usher, what happened? Looks like Chris Brown stole your music career. Weezy probably saw your rehearsal and told B that they need to skip doing Love in the Club Part II. I’ll get back to Chris Brown later.

D.L. Hughley was so random with his jokes, that it made them unfunny. Just make Monique a permanent host.

Terrence Howard, no offense but you looked creepy. A man with a guitar is suppose to make the ladies swoon not run in the opposite direction. I am concerned for you upcoming album sales but I think I have come to the conclusion you are just creepy in general. Baby wipes anyone.

There I was all proud that Keisha Cole was finally doing a classy performance gown and all. Then Keisha goes and rips off the sheet and starts to channel Mary J circa Real Love. When that wasn’t enough Lil’ Kim comes out and the whole thing really goes south. It looked and SOUNDED like amateur night at the Apollo Theater. Hot mess.

Maybe Kanye brought Weezy up because he knew he shouldn’t have won. Yeah I think that it’s.

The best thing about Neyo’s performance was the Jambawakes , not Neyo.

RIP Pimp C. I was scared of your wife through the T.V. Congrats UGK.

T-pain should release a greatest featuring T-Pain album because that is basically what he performed. Best part was Big Boi and Ludacris. Yeah I know he produced all the songs too, but let me have my fun.

Oh yeah Rick Ross, zip it up. No one wanted to see that. One more thing, why do you have your whole face on a gold chain? Isn’t that heavy. Flo Rida was no better with the whole state of Florida gold plated.

Niecy Nash, you wrong for that.

Maybe someone should have called child protective services because something seemed wrong to have Keisha gyrating to Chris Brown. Didn’t Rihanna look uncomfortable when Ciara hit the stage? I thought they were just friends. Maybe Chris doesn’t know because he knew and was singing along when Rih hit the stage. Oh note to Chris. How can you be out of breath singing a slow song? Usher might just have a chance to reclaim is career from you.

Al Green was the best performance of the show. He had a flash back to his hey days and turned it out.

Hi Maxwell! What rock did they get you from under? Missed ya.

Nelly. We are in 2008 not 2004. Fergie was your saving grace.

Weezy closing out the show was great, but the ending was weird. Weezy’s album sold over a miliion in it’s first week, so his ending can be weird if that is the way he wanted it to be.

I honestly stopped being a fan probably back at Number 1 song #10. I honestly think she paid for this latest spot as her song ” Touch My Body” is nothing less than horrible. Especially with lyrics like this:

If there’s a camera up in here
Then it’s gonna leave with me
When I do (I do)
If there’s a camera up in here
Then I’d best not catch this flick
On YouTube (YouTube)
‘Cause if you run your mouth and brag
About this secret rendezvous
I will hunt you down
‘Cause they be all up in my business
Like a Wedding interview
But this is private
Between you and I

What the hell? I am still waiting for Mariah circa. 1995 to come back. Just like I am waiting for the Michael Jackson to come back. Guess I will be waiting for awhile. In the meantime I would like to thank Apple for their iPods so I don’t have to hear this mess on continues loop on Radio One stations while in the car.