Wu-Tang Clan cofounder Oliver “Power” Grant has died, the iconic hip-hop group confirmed on its social media accounts on Wednesday (Feb. 25). He was 52 years old.
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“Rest in Power, Power,” Wu-Tang captioned a clip of Grant on Instagram.
Grant, a childhood friend of RZA’s, played an integral role in constructing the legendary Staten Island, N.Y., crew and invested in the brand from its earliest stages. He also served as an executive producer for all of Wu’s albums.
Once news of Power’s passing became public, an outpouring of support followed on social media, including from Wu-Tang members.
“Paradise my Brother safe Travels!! #pookie #power Bruh I am not ok,” Method Man captioned a photo of the two together on Instagram.
Raekwon added on his own Instagram account: “POWER we been everywhere …. now you everywhere ! the most high is merciful love you.” The Chef had previously shouted out Grant on Only Built 4 Cuban Linx…‘s “Incarcerated Scarfaces.” “Scholars, word life, peace to Power and my whole unit,” he raps on the 1995 track.
GZA chimed in and declared that there would essentially be no Wu-Tang without Power. “Word life, peace to Power and my whole unit’ We couldn’t have done it without him,” he wrote on Instagram. “Wu wouldn’t have come to fruition without Power. His passing is a profound loss to us all. My deepest condolences to the fam.”
Power’s calling card came with cofounding the pioneering streetwear brand Wu Wear, which became a lucrative and trailblazing venture for the group.
“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,” Power relayed in 2011 to Passion of the Weiss. “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.”
Cam’ron, DJ Premier and executive Steve Rifkind, who signed Wu-Tang Clan to Loud Records, also delivered heartfelt tributes.
“You certified a worldwide movement. A PIONEER for The Culture,” Preemo added. “WU-TANG IS FOREVER… I had some fun times touring with you and our mutual connections kept us in touch.”
The news of Grant’s passing comes nearly in tandem. Earlier the same day, the Wu-Tang Clan earned its first Rock & Roll Hall of Fame nomination for the Class of 2026.
