Oliver “Power” Grant, the founding business architect of the Wu-Tang Clan and creator of the pioneering Wu Wear clothing line, died on February 23, 2026. He was 52 years old. No cause of death has been disclosed.
While the world celebrated the lyrical genius of RZA, GZA, Method Man, and the rest of the Clan, Grant was the one making sure that genius translated into generational wealth. He grew up in Staten Island’s Park Hill projects alongside the crew. A childhood friend of RZA’s older brother Divine, Grant invested his own money into the group’s future before a single record deal was signed.
His nickname came from a chess game with fellow founding members. They called him “Power” because, as they explained, that is the amount of force it takes to do work. He proved them right for three decades.
The Blueprint Before the Blueprint
Grant executive produced every Wu-Tang Clan album. He helped secure studio access and financial backing for 1993’s Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers), one of the most important albums in hip-hop history. More critically, he built the business infrastructure that allowed the Clan to negotiate recording contracts on their terms, a nearly unheard-of power move in early ’90s rap.
In 1995, he launched Wu Wear. The streetwear line landed in Macy’s, generated roughly $25 million in annual revenue at its peak, and operated four retail locations across the country, according to his Wikipedia biography. Wu Wear was not just merchandise. It was one of hip-hop’s first artist-owned fashion brands, a model that Rocawear, Sean John, and eventually Yeezy would follow.
Grant also stepped in front of the camera, appearing in Hype Williams’ Belly (1998) alongside DMX and Nas, and in James Toback’s Black and White (1999).
Why This Matters
Hip-hop loves its MCs. It celebrates producers. But the business architects who turn culture into infrastructure rarely get their flowers while they are alive. Power Grant built a blueprint for artist ownership before the industry had language for it. Every rapper who owns equity in their brand, launches a clothing line, or negotiates publishing rights is walking a path he helped clear.
Method Man confirmed the passing on Instagram, writing: “Paradise my Brother safe Travels!!” alongside a photo of the two together, as reported by Hot 97.
The takeaway is simple. When we talk about who built hip-hop, the conversation cannot stop at the microphone. Power Grant understood that culture without ownership is just content for someone else’s profit. That lesson is more urgent today than ever.
