Oliver “Power” Grant, a founding member of the legendary hip-hop group Wu-Tang Clan, has died. He was 52 years old.
Fellow Wu-Tang member Method Man acknowledged Grant’s shocking death in a touching Instagram post on Tuesday.
“Big brother’s paradise departs safely!!” Method Man (54) wrote along with a photo of the two of them.
Grant’s death was also announced on Instagram by the hip-hop music site “okayplayer”. The cause of death has not been announced, but he reportedly died on February 23rd.
“Power, the driving force behind one of hip-hop’s most influential movements, helped build a global legacy rooted in independence, ownership, and culture,” OK Layer’s post began. “His belief in creative control and empowering community helped form not just a group, but a dynasty that changed music forever.
The site added: “His influence will live on through the culture he elevated and the countless lives he inspired.”
Representatives for the Wu-Tang Clan did not immediately respond to Page Six’s request for comment.
Born in Jamaica on November 3, 1973, Grant later moved to New York City and grew up on Staten Island with core members of Wu-Tang, including RZA, Ghostface Killa, Method Man, Raekwon, Inspector Deck, You God, Masta Killa, and Cappadonna.
The late hip-hop buddy executive produced all of the famous rap crew’s records and also launched the popular clothing line Wu Wear.
“There were a lot of skeptics, doubters and non-believers on my crew,” Grant said in 2011 about the clothing line and how it helped solidify the Wu-Tang brand.
“It wasn’t personal, but everyone is an individual and I don’t think they really understood what I was doing or what I was trying to get across in the beginning or where I was coming from,” he added at the time.
In addition to co-starring with Wu-Tang from the group’s formation in 1992 until his death, Grant was also an actor who starred in Belly with Method Man in 1998 and Black and White the following year.
Other Wu-Tang members also paid tribute to the late producer, including RZA, GZA, and Raekwon.
“I couldn’t have done this without him,” GZA, 59, posted on Instagram on Tuesday alongside four photos of Grant. “Wu would not have been possible without Power. His death is a deep loss for all of us. My deepest condolences to his family.”
“We were the power everywhere… now you are everywhere!” Raekwon, 56, added to his post along with a photo of Grant and Wu-Tang. “The Most High is merciful; I love you.”
Grant, who was instrumental in the success of Wu-Tang’s 1993 debut album Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers), spoke about the group’s early days in an interview with Passion of the Weiss.
“Everything we’ve learned has been through hard things in life. You figure it out as you go along, and you take cues from people who are actively doing things,” he told the outlet in 2011. “A lot of it was trial and error.”
