AT A GLANCE
- Rob Base died May 22 after a private battle with cancer.
- The Harlem rapper had celebrated his 59th birthday earlier in the week.
- He was best known for the 1988 platinum hit “It Takes Two” with DJ E-Z Rock.
- His family said his music and legacy helped shape a generation.
The Harlem-Based Rapper Had Just Celebrated His 59th Birthday On Monday
Rob Base, the Harlem rapper best known for the 1988 hit “It Takes Two” with DJ E-Z Rock, has died after a private battle with cancer. He was 59.
The rapper’s family confirmed his death in a statement shared on his official Instagram account, saying Rob Base died peacefully on May 22, 2026, while surrounded by family.
“Rob’s music, energy, and legacy helped shape a generation and brought joy to millions around the world,” the family wrote. “Beyond the stage, he was a loving father, family man, friend, and creative force whose impact will never be forgotten.”
The statement also thanked fans for “the music, the memories, and the moments that became the soundtrack to our lives.”
Born Robert Ginyard, Rob Base became widely known as one half of the hip hop duo Rob Base & DJ E-Z Rock. The pair’s 1988 single “It Takes Two” became a defining record of its era, blending hip hop and dance music into a party anthem that crossed generations.
The song, built around a sample of Lyn Collins’ “Think (About It),” reached No. 36 on the Billboard Hot 100 and climbed to No. 3 on Billboard’s Hot Dance Club Songs chart. Both the single and the album of the same name were certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America.
Over the years, “It Takes Two” continued to live far beyond its original release, later being sampled and referenced by artists including Snoop Dogg and the Black Eyed Peas.
A Legacy Shared With DJ E-Z Rock
Rob Base’s longtime musical partner, DJ E-Z Rock, was born Rodney “Skip” Bryce. Together, the duo became one of the most recognizable hip hop acts of the late 1980s.
The pair later separated before reuniting in 1994 for their second and final studio album, “Break of Dawn.” DJ E-Z Rock died on April 27, 2014, from complications linked to diabetes.
In 1989, Rob Base released his only solo album, “The Incredible Base,” which reached No. 50 on the Billboard 200 and No. 20 on Billboard’s Top R&B/Hip Hop Albums chart.
Rob Base’s death marks the loss of another artist from hip hop’s foundational era, but his music remains stitched into the culture. “It Takes Two” was not just a hit record. It became one of those songs that still makes a room move before anyone remembers they have knees.
