What Is Lee ‘Q’ O'Denat’s Cause Of Death? WorldStarHipHop Issues Instagram Statement On Founder's Death

Lee “Q” O'Denat, founder of the controversial hip-hop website WorldStarHipHop, died Monday at the age of 43. WorldStarHipHop issued a statement on its Instagram account confirming the news.

The San Diego County medical examiner’s office told Los Angeles Times that Q was in a San Diego shopping center when he became unresponsive. According to the report, paramedics arrived at the site — identified by police as a massage parlor — and attempted to revive him with CPR, but he was later pronounced dead.

Q's cause of death is heart attack, the coroner’s office reportedly said, adding that obesity is being considered as a contributing factor.

Q founded WorldStarHipHop in 2005 as a platform for downloading mixtapes. He later expanded his venture by including a variety of aggregated videos, mostly hip-hop, fight footage and some funny clips.

Here is the full statement by WorldStarHipHop:

With profound sadness, WorldStarHipHop and its employees, state that Lee ODenat, known as “Q”, the founder, leader and genius behind the website and brand has passed in San Diego. Q was a brilliant businessman who championed urban culture, ultimately creating the largest hiphop website in the world. But more than that, he was a devoted father and one of the nicest, most generous persons to ever grace this planet. We will miss his hearty laugh and warm spirit. WorldStarHipHop will continue in its various endeavors. We ask that you remember Q in your prayers and raise a toast to the sky in his name.

Ben Baller, for whom Q was a mentor and the godfather to his child, wrote on his Instagram// account: "I really am at a loss for words. I just spoke to you last night. 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"

On social media, the world of hip-hop reacted to Q's death: