Oliver “Power” Grant, a founding business architect of the Wu-Tang Clan and creator of its influential Wu Wear clothing line, died on February 23. He was 52. The cause of death was not disclosed as of press time.
His passing was confirmed by Method Man, a core member of the Clan, who paid tribute on Instagram. Meth and Power co-starred in the 1998 film Belly and the 1999 film Black and White.
“Paradise my Brother safe Travels!! 💔💔🤬 #pookie #power,” he wrote alongside a photograph of the two men.
Though not a performing member, Grant, known widely as “Power,” shaped the group’s commercial ascent during the 1990s. Born in Jamaica and raised in New York, he became an early supporter of the Staten Island collective as it formed around the vision of RZA and the late Ol’ Dirty Bastard.
As the group prepared to release its 1993 debut album, Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers), Mr. Grant helped secure studio access and financial backing. He worked to build the business infrastructure that allowed the Clan to maintain unusual leverage in its recording contracts.
He later founded Wu Wear, among the first artist-owned streetwear brands in hip-hop. Launched in the mid-1990s, the label grew into a global enterprise, with retail locations in New York and Los Angeles.
At its height, Wu Wear generated tens of millions in annual sales and helped establish a template for musician-led fashion ventures. Wu Wear would be distributed in retail department stores nationwide in the late 90s and early 2000s.
RIP Oliver “Power” Grant Of The Wu-Tang Clan, Rapper Method Man Reacts
Power also served as a manager and executive producer on several Wu-Tang-related projects, expanding the brand into touring, film and merchandising. His work translated the group’s raw lyricism into sustainable enterprise.
While internal disputes and legal conflicts occasionally surfaced within the extended Wu-Tang business network, Mr. Grant remained a steadfast presence.
In an industry that often spotlights performers, Oliver “Power” Grant stood behind the curtain. His imprint on hip-hop commerce endures in the blueprint he helped design.
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