Rob Base, ‘It Takes Two’ rapper, dies at 59

NEW YORK — Rob Base, one half of the influential duo Rob Base & DJ E‑Z Rock, died May 22 while surrounded by family following a private cancer battle. He had celebrated his 59th birthday just four days earlier.

A statement on his social media praised his impact: “Rob’s music, energy, and legacy helped shape a generation and brought joy to millions around the world… Thank you for the music, the memories, and the moments that became the soundtrack to our lives.”

Rob Base: A Pioneer Who Brought Hip‑Hop to the Mainstream

Base and DJ E‑Z Rock, who died in 2014, helped merge hip‑hop and house music in the 1980s, pushing both genres into the mainstream. Their breakout hit “It Takes Two” reached No. 3 on the Billboard Hot Dance/Club Songs chart in 1988, followed by “Get on the Dance Floor,” which hit No. 1.

Rob Base and DJ E-Z Rock | Photo Credit: Mick Tobyn, CC BY-SA 2.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0>, via Wikimedia Commons

“It Takes Two” became a cultural staple, sampled by artists including Snoop Dogg and the Black Eyed Peas, and featured in films such as The Proposal (2009) and Iron Man 2 (2010).

Harlem Roots and Rapid Rise

Born Robert Ginyard on May 18, 1967, Base met E‑Z Rock in the fifth grade in Harlem. Inspired by local pioneers like the Crash Crew, the pair began recording as teens. Their early tracks “DJ Interview” and “Make It Hot” generated buzz, leading them to record the demo for “It Takes Two” in just two nights. That demo secured a deal with Profile Records.

Their debut album, also titled It Takes Two, peaked at No. 4 on the Billboard Top R&B/Hip‑Hop Albums chart and produced additional hits including “Joy and Pain.”

Base released his solo album The Incredible Base in 1989 and reunited with E‑Z Rock for Break of Dawn in 1994.

Rob Base’s Later Career and Lasting Influence

In recent years, Base continued performing on the “I Love the 90’s Tour,” sharing stages with Vanilla Ice, All‑4‑One, Young MC and others. He also ran a production company, Funky Base, Inc., mentoring emerging artists, and served as executive producer on the 2025 horror film Urban Flesh Eaters.

Fans and peers credit him as a foundational figure whose sound helped define an era of hip‑hop and continues to influence artists across genres.