Wu-Tang Clan Co-Founder Oliver “Power” Grant Dies at 52
Oliver “Power” Grant, a founding architect of the Wu-Tang Clan’s business infrastructure and a longtime executive producer of the group’s releases, has died at 52. His death was first reported by Okayplayer. A cause of death has not been disclosed.
Grant grew up in Staten Island’s Park Hill projects alongside several future members of Wu-Tang Clan and became instrumental in turning a loose collective of MCs into a durable enterprise. In 1992, he helped finance the group’s debut single, “Protect Ya Neck,” a self-released track that laid the groundwork for the group’s ascent. Grant later described himself as the “financial guy,” working in tandem with RZA and Ghostface Killah to translate musical vision into viable business strategy.
In 1993, Grant served as executive producer on the group’s debut album, Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers), a record widely credited with reshaping 1990s hip-hop through its minimalist production and martial-arts-inflected aesthetic. Beyond the studio, Grant helped formalize a philosophy that emphasized ownership and creative control, principles that would become central to the Wu-Tang brand.
One of his most visible contributions was the launch of Wu Wear, the group’s clothing line. What began as merchandise for fans quickly evolved into a standalone fashion business. At its height, Wu Wear reportedly generated roughly $25 million in annual revenue, secured distribution deals, including with Macy’s, and operated multiple retail locations across the United States. Grant often framed the Wu logo as a unifying cultural symbol, comparing its recognizability to global fashion houses and arguing that it functioned as an international signifier of identity.
“Power helped build a global legacy rooted in independence, ownership, and culture,” Okayplayer wrote in its confirmation of his death. The group acknowledged Grant on its official Instagram account, posting, “Rest in Power, Power.” Fellow member Method Man shared a tribute as well, writing, “Paradise my Brother safe Travels!! … Bruh I am not ok.”
Grant’s role in the Wu-Tang story was later dramatized in the Hulu series Wu-Tang: An American Saga (2019–2023), in which he was portrayed by Marcus Callender. In interviews, Callender described lengthy conversations with Grant ahead of filming, noting that Grant offered stories rather than performance instructions, an approach consistent with his reputation as a behind-the-scenes builder rather than a public-facing personality.
Throughout the group’s expansion, from solo albums to touring, merchandising, and licensing, Grant remained focused on infrastructure. His efforts helped establish a template for hip-hop collectives seeking autonomy in an industry often dominated by major labels and external financiers.
Grant is survived by family members and a community of collaborators who credit him with shaping not just a group but a business model that influenced subsequent generations of artists. Funeral arrangements have not been announced.
