SAN DIEGO (AP) – Lee O’Denat, who founded the popular website WorldStarHipHop.com, has died in San Diego. He was 43.
The San Diego County medical examiner’s office says O’Denat was at a local business on Monday when he became unresponsive. San Diego police tell the Los Angeles Times (http://lat.ms/2j3eVvF ) it was a massage parlor.
The cause of death was heart disease, with obesity a contributing factor.
O’Denat founded WorldStarHipHop.com in 2005. The content aggregator offers hip-hop and viral videos. It has taken heat for sexual and violent content.
Rapper 50 Cent won a 2009 lawsuit against O’Denat for using his image without permission.
The site inspired the yell “World Star!,” shouted when something – often a fight – is worthy of being recorded.
In a Facebook message, the website said operations will continue.