Wu-Tang Co-Founder Oliver Grant Dies
Oliver "Power" Grant, a founding member of the Wu-Tang Clan and major influence in hip-hop fashion entrepreneurship, has died at age 52. Grant's passing comes as Wu-Tang is named a nominee for the 2026 class of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. He was instrumental in the group's business ventures, including Wu Wear.
- At its commercial peak, the Wu Wear clothing line generated upwards of $25 million in annual revenue and was sold in major department stores like Macy's. - Though not a performing member, Grant was the executive producer for every Wu-Tang Clan album and helped finance the group's earliest recordings, including the debut single "Protect Ya Neck." - Grant's official cause of death has not been publicly released. Tributes from fellow members poured in, with GZA stating, "Wu wouldn't have come to fruition without Power," and Method Man sharing, "I am not okay." - The 2026 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame nomination is the Wu-Tang Clan's first appearance on the ballot; other first-time nominees in the class include Lauryn Hill, Mariah Carey, and Oasis. - In 2008, Grant discontinued the original Wu Wear line and rebranded it as Wu-Tang Brand due to widespread counterfeiting, though it was officially relaunched in 2017 with Grant serving as a "Historic Creative Consultant." - Beyond fashion, Grant's ventures included acting, with a notable role as "Knowledge" in the 1998 film *Belly*, and producing the 1999 PlayStation video game *Wu-Tang: Shaolin Style*.
