Wu-Tang Founding Member Dies
Wu-Tang Clan founding member Oliver "Power" Grant died at age 52 just hours after the group was nominated for the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. Grant was an executive producer for Wu-Tang and created the iconic Wu Wear brand that helped define hip-hop fashion in the 1990s. The timing has cast a bittersweet shadow over what should have been pure celebration for the legendary group.
In a statement, the Wu-Tang Clan confirmed Grant's cause of death was pancreatic cancer, calling him a "visionary force, a pillar of the Wu-Tang family, and a global architect of culture." Grant, who grew up with the Clan members in Staten Island's Park Hill Projects, was given the nickname "Power" over a game of chess and provided crucial early funding for their debut single, "Protect Ya Neck." The Wu Wear clothing line, launched by Grant in 1995, was a pioneering venture that predated other major artist-driven brands like Sean John and Baby Phat. Starting as a mail-order business, the brand's success exploded, eventually landing in major department stores like Macy's and generating over $25 million in annual revenue at its peak. Grant's entrepreneurial vision extended beyond fashion. He produced the 1999 PlayStation video game *Wu-Tang: Shaolin Style* and also pursued acting, appearing in the Hype Williams-directed cult classic *Belly* (1998) and the 1999 film *Black and White* alongside Ben Stiller and Robert Downey Jr. The group's first-ever nomination for the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame places them in the Class of 2026 ballot alongside other first-time nominees like Lauryn Hill, Mariah Carey, and Oasis. Inductees are expected to be formally announced in April. Fellow Wu-Tang members shared emotional tributes following Grant's death. GZA stated, "Wu wouldn't have come to fruition without Power," while Method Man posted, "I am not okay."
