Oliver "Power" Grant | |
---|---|
Born | Oliver Grant New York City, U.S. |
Nationality | American |
Occupations |
|
Known for | Wu-Tang Clan |
Website | https://www.instagram.com/wutangbrand/ https://www.wutangbrand.com |
Oliver "Power" Grant is an American entrepreneur, producer, streetwear clothing mogul and actor. As a close associate of the hip-hop group, Wu-Tang Clan, [1] Grant executive produced all of the Wu-Tang Clan albums. He is the original founder and CEO of the Wu Wear clothing line and stores.[ citation needed ]
Grant grew up in the Park Hill projects in Staten Island with Wu-Tang Clan. He was childhood friends with RZA's older brother Divine, and got in on the ground floor of the Clan's inception by making a sizable investment in the group's future. Over a game of chess, two of the Wu-Tang Clan founding members gave him the name "Power" because that is the amount of force it takes in order to do work. Grant is also an older brother of Wu-Tang's affiliate Killarmy member Killa Sin.
Grant became successful as a clothing mogul in 1995 when he launched Wu Wear, often regarded as one of the first artist-inspired clothing lines. He began by selling clothes with the group's logo on it via mail order. Initially, manufacturers wouldn't extend Grant the credit, but after the group saw platinum success, he opened a Wu Wear store on Victory Boulevard in their hometown of Staten Island, and an office in Manhattan's garment district to sell wholesale. [2] According to the Of Mics and Men documentary which debuted on Showtime in 2019, Power's business moves led to the opening of four stores across the country. The line was carried in Macy's, Rich's and the (now defunct) clothing store d.e.m.o., [3] resulting in annual revenue topping out at upwards of $25 million during the group's peak years. [4] In 2008, Grant renamed it "Wu-Tang Brand" and discontinued the Wu Wear line which was being counterfeited and sold online.
Grant and the RZA joined forces with Live Nation Merchandise to relaunch the classic clothing line in 2017. [5] Power serves as the brand's "Historic Creative Consultant" to ensure quality creative control. The line includes classic designs as well as new items. [6] In a 2013 interview, Power discussed the Wu's lasting legacy and the impact its brand made on the industry, crediting the Wu's clothing line and other successful side-ventures as early entrepreneurialism that laid the foundation and open doors for future generations of hip-hop artists to explore other business opportunities outside of music. "Nowadays, all the walls are broken [for Hip Hop artists]. That’s what we were fighting for…this culture would be that much...further if there was a lot less blocking going on and a lot less hating on going [by corporate America]." [7]
Grant made his film debut as "Knowledge" in the urban cult classic Belly , directed by Hype Williams. [8] In addition, he played the role of "Rich Bower" in writer/director James Toback’s Black and White , which also starred Ben Stiller, Robert Downey Jr., Brooke Shields, Elijah Wood, Mike Tyson, and several others. He was also a producer and music supervisor of the film.[ citation needed ] He would work again with Toback as actor and composer for When Will I Be Loved , starring Neve Campbell. [ citation needed ] He also had the leading role and was a producer on the feature film Coalition . He has a co-starring role in talk show host and former nationally syndicated shock jock Wendy Williams’ life story Queen of Media as her husband Big Kev.
In 1999, Grant produced, developed and released Wu-Tang: Shaolin Style , a four-player 3D fighting video game for the PlayStation. The Wu-Tang Clan is the basis for the game's story and setting and features characters based on their stage personas and the martial arts themes of their music. Some members of the group also provided voiceover work for the game and made vocal and production contributions to the game's music. [ citation needed ]
In the Hulu exclusive Wu-Tang: An American Saga series, [9] Power is portrayed by actor Marcus Callender, who watched as much footage of Power as he could find [10] and wrote "It is a complete honor to be portraying one of the vital pieces of the Wu-Tang Clan" on his Instagram account.
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1998 | Belly | Knowledge | |
1999 | Black and White | Rich Bower |
Wu-Tang Clan is an American hip hop musical collective formed in Staten Island, New York City, in 1992. Its members include RZA, GZA, Method Man, Raekwon, Ghostface Killah, Inspectah Deck, U-God, Masta Killa, and, until his death in 2004, Ol' Dirty Bastard. Close affiliate Cappadonna later became an official member. They are credited for revitalizing East Coast hip hop and are considered one of the greatest hip hop groups of all time.
Corey Woods, better known by his stage name Raekwon, is an American rapper. He rose to prominence as a founding member of the hip-hop group Wu-Tang Clan, which achieved mainstream success following the release of their debut album, Enter the Wu-Tang , in 1993. Raekwon would subsequently pursue a solo career, releasing his first solo album, entitled Only Built 4 Cuban Linx..., in 1995. The album received critical acclaim, and is regarded by many critics as one of the greatest hip-hop albums of all time, as well as a staple of 1990s rap.
Dennis David Coles, better known by his stage name Ghostface Killah, is an American rapper and a member of the hip hop group Wu-Tang Clan. After the group achieved breakthrough success in the aftermath of Enter the Wu-Tang , the members went on to pursue solo careers to varying levels of success. Ghostface Killah debuted his solo career with Ironman, which was well-received by music critics, in 1996. He has enjoyed continued success in the years that have followed, releasing critically acclaimed albums such as Supreme Clientele (2000) and Fishscale (2006). His stage name was taken from one of the characters in the 1979 kung fu film The Mystery of Chess Boxing. He is the founder of his own record label, Starks Enterprises.
Enter the Wu-Tang is the debut studio album by the American hip-hop group Wu-Tang Clan, released on November 9, 1993, by Loud Records and RCA Records. Recording sessions took place during late 1992 to early 1993 at Firehouse Studio in New York City, and the album was produced by the group's de facto leader RZA. Its title originates from the martial arts films Enter the Dragon (1973) and The 36th Chamber of Shaolin (1978).
Liquid Swords is the second solo studio album by the American rapper and Wu-Tang Clan member GZA, released on November 7, 1995, by Geffen Records. Recording sessions for the album began midway through 1995 at producer RZA's basement studio in the New York City borough of Staten Island. The album heavily samples dialogue from the martial arts film Shogun Assassin and maintains a dark atmosphere throughout, incorporating lyrical references to chess, crime and philosophy. Liquid Swords features numerous guest appearances from the other eight members of Wu-Tang Clan along with Wu-Tang affiliate Killah Priest.
Clifford Smith, Jr., better known by his stage name Method Man, is an American rapper, record producer, and actor. He is a member of the East Coast hip hop collective Wu-Tang Clan, and is half of the hip hop duo Method Man & Redman. He took his stage name from the 1979 film Method Man. In 1996, Method Man won a Grammy Award for Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group for "I'll Be There for You/You're All I Need to Get By", featuring R&B singer Mary J. Blige, with whom he currently stars in Power Book II: Ghost, a spin-off of Power.
Jason Richard Hunter, better known by his stage name Inspectah Deck, is an American rapper and hip hop producer. He is a member of the groups Wu-Tang Clan and Czarface.
Tical is the debut studio album by American rapper and Wu-Tang Clan member Method Man. It was released November 15, 1994, by Def Jam Recordings. It was the first Wu-Tang solo album released after the group's debut, Enter the Wu-Tang . Similar to all first generation solo Wu-Tang projects, Tical was mainly produced by group member RZA, who provided a dark, murky and rugged sound. The album features guest appearances from RZA, Raekwon, Inspectah Deck, as well as several affiliates, who would later appear on future group projects. On October 5, 2017, Method Man revealed on the Viceland talk show Desus & Mero that the album's title is an acronym for "taking into consideration all lives."
Ronald Maurice Bean, better known professionally as Mathematics, is a hip hop producer and DJ for the Wu-Tang Clan and its solo and affiliate projects. He designed the Wu-Tang Clan logo.
"C.R.E.A.M." is a song by the American hardcore hip hop group Wu-Tang Clan, released on January 31, 1994 by Loud Records, as the second single from their debut studio album Enter the Wu-Tang (1993). The song was produced by the group's de facto leader RZA, and contains a sample of the Charmels' 1967 song "As Long As I've Got You" throughout. It features two verses from members Raekwon and Inspectah Deck, who discuss their upbringings while living in New York City, and Method Man, who sings its hook. Its music video, featuring all Wu-Tang Clan members in New York City, was released in 1994.
Wu-Tang Chamber Music is a compilation album endorsed by Wu-Tang Clan, which was released through E1 Music/Universal Records on June 30, 2009. The album features performances by several Wu-Tang members and affiliates. The album was released to positive reviews from music critics. This album was followed up with the 2011 compilation album Legendary Weapons.
Robert Fitzgerald Diggs, better known by his stage name RZA, is an American rapper, record producer, composer, actor, and filmmaker. He is the de facto leader of the hip hop group Wu-Tang Clan, having produced most albums for the group and its respective members. He is a cousin of two other original Wu-Tang Clan members: GZA and Ol' Dirty Bastard. He has also released solo albums under the alter-ego Bobby Digital, along with executive producing credits for side projects. After forming the Wu-Tang Clan, RZA was a founding member of the horrorcore group Gravediggaz, since 1992, where he went by the name The RZArector.
"Wu-Tang Forever" is a song by Canadian rapper Drake from his third studio album Nothing Was the Same (2013). The song was released as the album's first promotional single on September 12, 2013. "Wu-Tang Forever" features a significant sample of "It's Yourz" by the Wu-Tang Clan. The song was produced by frequent collaborator Noah "40" Shebib. The song has since peaked at number 52 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.
Wu-Tang Forever is the second studio album by the American hip hop group Wu-Tang Clan, released June 3, 1997, by Loud and RCA Records in the United States. Pressed as a double album, it was released after a long run of successful solo projects from various members of the group, and serves as the follow-up to their debut album Enter the Wu-Tang . Forever features several guest appearances from Wu-Tang affiliates Cappadonna, Streetlife, 4th Disciple, True Master, and Tekitha. The original run of compact discs featured an enhanced CD which allowed users to walk around the "Wu Mansion" and access additional content.
Gary Grice, better known by his stage names GZA and The Genius, is an American rapper. A founding member of the hip hop group Wu-Tang Clan, GZA is the group's "spiritual head", being both the first member in the group to receive a record deal and being the oldest member. He has appeared on his fellow Wu-Tang members' solo projects, and has maintained a successful solo career starting with his sophomore album Liquid Swords (1995).
Darryl Hill, better known by his stage name Cappadonna, is an American rapper. He is a member of the hip hop collective Wu-Tang Clan and is a member of the hip hop group Theodore Unit together with Ghostface Killah.
The Nine Rings of Wu-Tang is a 1999 comic book based on the hip hop group the Wu-Tang Clan. The Wu-Tang Clan members are re-imagined as Spanish based mystic martial artists who save the world.
Wu-Tang Clan: Of Mics and Men is a four-episode American documentary television series that premiered on Showtime on May 10, 2019. The documentary was created by Sacha Jenkins and tells a story of the New York–based hip-hop group Wu-Tang Clan from their earliest times to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the group.
Sophia Chang is a Canadian-Korean music director, producer, manager, TV producer and author. Widely recognized as the first Asian woman in hip hop, Chang managed A Tribe Called Quest, Raphael Saadiq, Q-Tip, and members of Wu-Tang Clan such as RZA, GZA, and Ol' Dirty Bastard. Chang produced Project Runway All Stars. Her memoir, The Baddest Bitch in the Room, won the Wavy 2021 Best Book Award. A graduate of the University of British Columbia, Chang has two children with her ex-partner Shi Yan Ming. As of 2023, Chang is developing numerous projects, including a scripted series based on her memoir.