Oliver “Power” Grant, a founding force behind the legendary hip-hop collective Wu-Tang Clan, has died at age 52, sending shockwaves through the music world.
The Staten Island-based group confirmed Grant’s death on Wednesday on social media with a powerful message: “Rest in Power, Power.” No cause of death was disclosed. Grant died Monday, February 23.
The announcement came the same day Wu-Tang Clan was nominated for the 2026 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame for the first time—a bittersweet milestone now shadowed by the loss of a man many credit as essential to the group’s revolutionary success.
Born November 3, 1973, in Jamaica, Grant grew up in the Park Hill Projects in Staten Island, where he forged lifelong bonds with the men who would become Wu-Tang Clan. Though he never performed as a rapper, his role proved absolutely vital. He gathered the funds needed to produce the group’s breakout December 1992 single “Protect Ya Neck” and served as executive producer on their iconic 1993 debut album “Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers).”
The nickname “Power” fit Grant perfectly. Two Wu-Tang founding members gave him the name over a game of chess—a nod to the force required to do work. Beyond his role producing Wu-Tang’s music, he became a pioneering entrepreneur who helped transform hip-hop into a cultural and commercial juggernaut.
In 1995, Grant founded Wu Wear, a streetwear brand that exploded into a fashion empire with retail stores in New York City, Atlanta, Los Angeles and beyond. With Grant as CEO, Wu Wear cut deals with major retailers like Macy’s and at its peak generated $25 million annually. The brand helped cement Wu-Tang’s influence far beyond music, making the group’s distinctive logo as recognizable as any luxury fashion house.
Grant later renamed the venture Wu-Tang Brand in 2008 after widespread counterfeiting plagued the original line. In 2017, he and RZA relaunched Wu Wear with Live Nation Merchandise. His business acumen proved as sharp as his eye for talent.
Tributes from Wu-Tang members flooded social media. Method Man posted an emotional message alongside a photo of the two men: “Paradise my Brother safe Travels!! Bruh I am not ok.”
Inspectah Deck offered perhaps the most personal tribute: “You believed in me when I didn’t believe in myself. You helped me save my life and I am forever grateful.” Masta Killa sent “love, peace & blessings to the family.”
Grant also stepped into acting, appearing in the 1998 crime drama Belly and the 1999 film Black and White with Ben Stiller, Robert Downey Jr., Brooke Shields, and Mike Tyson. His additional roles included When Will I Be Loved and Coalition in 2004, as well as the unreleased Wendy Williams biopic Queen of Media in 2011.
Grant’s journey reflected the self-made drive that fueled early hip-hop business ventures. In a 2011 interview with Passion of the Weiss, he talked about building something from scratch: Everything we learned came from real-life challenges. You figure things out along the way and watch the people who are already making moves. Much of it was experimenting and learning from mistakes. There was no blueprint.
The original nine-member Wu-Tang Clan—RZA, GZA, Ol’ Dirty Bastard, Method Man, Raekwon, Ghostface Killah, Inspectah Deck, U-God and Masta Killa—revolutionized hip-hop in the 1990s with their raw sound and entrepreneurial approach. Close affiliate Cappadonna later became an official member. Their debut album remains one of the most acclaimed hip-hop records ever released.
Grant’s character appeared in the 2019-2023 Hulu series “Wu-Tang: An American Saga,” portrayed by Marcus Callender, introducing his pivotal role to a new generation.
Grant was also the brother of Wu-Tang affiliate Killa Sin. As tributes continue pouring in from across the music industry, Grant’s legacy stands secure—a visionary who helped build one of hip-hop’s most influential movements and proved that success could be built on independence, ownership and cultural authenticity.