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The cause of death of Wu-Tang Clan cofounder Oliver 'Power' Grant has been revealed just .
Grant, who was the business mastermind behind the iconic hip hop collective, died after 'a courageous and hard-fought battle with pancreatic ,' his family and the Wu-Tang Clan announced in a joint statement to Rolling Stone on Sunday.
'A true fighter until the end, he was surrounded by his mother, his children, his family, and his closest friends,' his family wrote, adding that Grant was a 'proud product of the Park Hill neighborhood.'
Grant grew up in the Park Hill public housing projects on New York's Staten Island, where several of his future Wu-Tang Clan compatriots — including GZA, Ghostface Killah, Method Man and Raekwon — also spent their formative years.
'From those streets, he rose to become a visionary force, a pillar of the Wu-Tang family, and a global architect of culture,' Grant's family continued.
'It was the honor of his life to pour his love, wisdom, and brilliance into his family and his community. His impact was singular; there will never be another to take his place.
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A joint statement to Rolling Stone from the Wu-Tang Clan and the family of the hip hop collective's late founding member Oliver Grant revealed that he died at 52 on February 23 from pancreatic cancer; he's pictured with Wu-Tang Clan member Method Man
'Power will always be loved, and his legacy will forever remain,' they added, concluding with a quotation: 'Greatness is not what you have, but what you give.'
Unlike some forms of cancer, pancreatic cancer tends to have a poor prognosis, as people with the condition tend not to have many symptoms in the early stages, when the cancer is most treatable.
The early symptoms are also similar to those from other conditions, which can delay a proper diagnosis.
Raekwon posted: ‘POWER we been everywhere …. now you everywhere ! the most high is merciful love you'
A childhood friend of RZA, Grant played a pivotal — and often under-appreciated — role in turning the Wu-Tang Clan from a scrappy Staten Island rap crew into a global cultural powerhouse; (Wu-Tang Clan in 1993)
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Grant’s influence stretched well beyond the Clan’s inner circle, with artists from across the hip‑hop spectrum acknowledging his impact.
