Worldstar Hip Hop founder and CEO Lee O’Denat, aka “Q”, died in his sleep on Monday, according to published reports.
O’Denat founded the aggregate video streaming website Worldstarhiphop.com in 2005.
At its peak WSHH drew over 2 million unique visitors a day, making O’Denat a millionaire before he turned 40.
WSHH was notorious for hosting edgy, graphic, and sometimes violent video content culled from user submissions, social media, or the evening news.
Some content was so controversial that even Q wouldn’t host it on his servers. He emailed such content to a certain blogger who didn’t hesitate to post it.
O’Denat’s close friend, jeweler Ben Baller remembered Q with a collage of personal photos on Instagram.com.
“I really am at a loss for words. I just spoke to you last night,” he wrote in the caption.
“You were more than just a friend and brother and even more than a godfather to my first born. You were my light and my inspiration. We traveled the world and I feel sometimes I owe you the world. I love you Lee Odenat. I can never thank you enough for what you have done for me and my family. It’s #WSHH forever bro. #Worldstar# Qworldstar #Queens”
