Wu‑Tang Clan and family confirm Oliver “Power” Grant died of pancreatic cancer

The Wu‑Tang Clan and the Grant family announced that Oliver “Power” Grant died following a battle with pancreatic cancer, saying “Power transitioned on Tuesday, February 24, 2026, following a courageous and hard‑fought battle with pancreatic cancer. A true fighter until the end, he was surrounded by his mother, his children, his family, and his closest friends.” The joint statement posted to the group’s social channels and shared with media set a wake for March 13 and a funeral for March 14 in the New York City area.

Born November 24, 1970, in Staten Island, the family statement described Grant — known to childhood friends as “Pookie” — as “a proud product of the Park Hill neighborhood” who rose to become “a visionary force, a pillar of the Wu‑Tang family, and a global architect of culture.” That birth date and the family’s death date put Grant at 55; several early reports gave his age as 52, an inconsistency that conflicts with the family’s own chronology.

Grant’s influence on hip‑hop was rarely front‑and‑center in lyric credits but was structural and financial. He is credited as an early backer who “helped the group get off the ground with a significant donation,” served as executive producer on a majority of the group’s albums, and founded Wu Wear, one of the first artist‑inspired clothing lines to turn a rap collective’s image into mainstream retail. The Los Angeles Times noted that Grant was not a performing member of the group; his role was managerial, entrepreneurial, and brand‑building rather than as a vocalist.

The immediate response from members underscored the personal and cultural void his death creates. Raekwon wrote on social media, “A 5 star General in the army of life ! They don’t make em like you anymore . thankyou BIG POWERFUL we gave you that name for many reasons . may allah preserve a place for you and forgive ya sins . condolences to the Grant family ! rest well Pook.” Method Man posted a photo with the caption, “Paradise my Brother safe Travels!! 💔💔🤬 #pookie #power Bruh I am not ok.” GZA summed the group’s dependence on Grant this way: “We couldn’t have done it without him. Wu wouldn’t have come to fruition without Power. His passing is a profound loss to us all. My deepest condolences to the fam.”

Grant’s death highlights broader industry shifts that he helped to catalyze. Wu Wear was an early example of musicians treating intellectual property as a diversified business, turning cultural cachet into licensing, apparel, and retail opportunities long before fashion‑partnership deals became routine in hip‑hop. That model presaged the contemporary landscape in which artists routinely monetize brand equity across clothing, beauty, and spirits in addition to recorded music.

There is also a social dimension to his passing. Grant’s trajectory from Park Hill to a global brand exemplifies how 1990s hip‑hop figures translated neighborhood credibility into cultural and economic power, creating pathways for subsequent generations of artists and entrepreneurs. The family’s statement asked for privacy and thanked supporters: “The Grant and Wu‑Tang families are profoundly thankful for the overwhelming outpouring of love and support from around the world,” and it closed, “Power will always be loved, and his legacy will forever remain.”

As the wake and funeral approach, the Wu‑Tang community and the broader music industry will likely reflect on both the creative output and the business architectures Grant helped to erect — legacies that extend beyond performance into how hip‑hop sustains itself as culture and commerce.