Wu-Tang Clan founding member Oliver “Power” Grant dead at 52
The music world is mourning. On Thursday, the Staten Island-based hip-hop collective Wu-Tang Clan shared the sad news that one of its founding members, Oliver “Power” Grant, had passed away at 52.
The tragic news was shared by Wu-Tang Clan on social media on Tuesday, February 24. Oliver “Power” Grant, a founding member of the hip-hop collective from Staten Island, New York City, was 52.
According to Hot 97, Grant died on Monday, February 23. His cause of death has not been announced. After his death, several Wu-Tang Clan members paid tribute.
“Paradise my Brother safe Travels!!” Grammy-winning rapper Method Man, who was also a founding member of the group, posted on Instagram.
Wu-Tang legend GZA shared a photo of them together, writing, “We couldn’t have done it without him. Wu wouldn’t have come to fruition without Power. His passing is a profound loss to us all. My deepest condolences to the fam.”
Wu-Tang Clan founding member Oliver Grant, dead at 52
Born on November 3, 1973, in Jamaica, Oliver Grant grew up in the Park Hill Projects in Staten Island. His childhood friends would later also launch Wu-Tang Clan.
While Grant wasn’t a performer in the group, he became a vital part of their success. Grant guided the nine founding members into creating a vision and growing, helping to push the hip-hop collective into a household name.
Their influence didn’t stop at music, but became somewhat of an identity in fashion and culture, In a clip the group once shared, Oliver “Power” Grant said that there were two things that make one do good.
“Either you’re inspired, or you’re desperate. Everybody was hustling. Our main money maker was the music, then the touring, then the brand.”
Besides the huge success with Wu-Tang Clan, Oliver “Power” Grant branched out to become a successful businessman. He founded Wu Wear, a streetwear clothing brand, in 1995, which became a huge success with stores in several major cities, including Los Angeles and Atlanta.
Successful businessman
Moreover, Macy’s began selling the brand, reaching fans nationwide. In a 2001 interview with Passion of the Weiss, Grant spoke about his journey.
“Wu Wear was pretty much like our entry in the fashion biz. But before I was in Wu Wear, I was making and marketing the first Wu records with RZA. Everything that we learned was hard-knock life. You figure it out as you go along and take cues from those that are actively doing things … A lot of it was trial and error. There were no models,” he said, per Billboard.
The news of Oliver “Power” Grant’s passing comes at a very meaningful time for the group. On Wednesday, Wu-Tang Clan earned its first Rock & Roll Hall of Fame nomination for the Class of 2026. If they were to be inducted, they’d join hip-hop legends such as The Notorious B.I.G. and Outkast.
Rest in peace, Oliver “Power” Grant. Our thoughts are with his loved ones.