The hip-hop world is in mourning following the death of Oliver "Power" Grant, a key co-creator and longtime executive producer of the legendary group Wu-Tang Clan. Grant, who died at the age of 52, was considered the business architect behind the New York collective's power. The sad news coincided with the announcement of the group's nomination for the 2026 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. The cause of death has not been made public.

Death of a Business Visionary

Oliver Grant, who died at the age of 52, was the operational brain and main investor in the early stage of Wu-Tang Clan's activities.

Foundation of Financial Success

It was Grant who financed the group's first single and created the lucrative clothing empire Wu Wear.

Tribute from Rap Legends

Band members, including Method Man, RZA, and GZA, unanimously described him as a figure essential to the formation's existence.

Hall of Fame Nomination

The news of his death coincided with Wu-Tang Clan's nomination for the 2026 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

The death of Oliver "Power" Grant marks the end of an era for one of the most influential groups in music history. Although Grant rarely appeared on stage with a microphone, his behind-the-scenes role was fundamental to the survival and global expansion of Wu-Tang Clan. Born in Jamaica and raised on Staten Island in New York, Grant was a childhood friend of most of the group's members. It was he who financed the recording of the breakthrough single "Protect Ya Neck," which allowed the formation to maintain independence in negotiations with major record labels. As an executive producer, he oversaw the creation of the most important albums, including the cult debut "Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers)." Grant was a visionary who understood that hip-hop was not just music, but a lifestyle. In 1995, he founded the clothing brand Wu Wear, which became a pioneering venture in the streetwear market, generating millions of dollars in annual revenue at its peak. The Wu-Tang Clan's business model, based on the simultaneous operation of the collective and the independent solo contracts of its members, revolutionized the music industry in the 1990s. The news of Grant's passing prompted an immediate reaction from the band members. Method Man admitted on social media that he was devastated, and GZA emphasized that without "Power," the group would never have been formed. The death occurred on February 23, 2026, just two days before the announcement that Wu-Tang Clan had been nominated for the prestigious Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. „Wu wouldn't have come to fruition without Power. His passing is a profound loss to us all.” — Gary Grice (GZA) Grant's legacy will live on not only in the group's discography but above all in the approach to creative control and artistic independence he developed, which became a model for subsequent generations of entrepreneurs in the entertainment industry.

Mentioned People

  • Oliver Grant — Deceased co-founder and executive producer of Wu-Tang Clan, known as Power.
  • Clifford Smith — Rapper known as Method Man, a close collaborator of Grant.
  • Gary Grice — Rapper known as GZA, co-founder of Wu-Tang Clan.
  • Robert Diggs — Leader of Wu-Tang Clan known as RZA.