Hip-Hop legend, Rob Base, dies just days after 59th birthday

Rapper Rob Base, known for 'It Takes Two', has died aged 59 following cancer battle

Rob Base, the rapper best known as one half of the Harlem duo Rob Base & DJ E-Z Rock, has died aged 59 after a battle with cancer. His death was confirmed in a statement shared on his official Instagram account.

Born Robert Ginyard, Rob Base rose to international recognition in the late 1980s with the hit single It Takes Two, a track that blended hip-hop and house music and became a defining release in the genre’s mainstream breakthrough.

The song remains one of the most recognised tracks of the era and is widely credited with helping expand hip-hop’s commercial reach.

A statement posted to his Instagram read, “Rob’s music, energy, and legacy helped shape a generation and brought joy to millions around the world,” adding, “Beyond the stage, he was a loving father, family man, friend, and creative force whose impact will never be forgotten.”

Base formed Rob Base & DJ E-Z Rock with Rodney “Skip” Bryce, who died in 2014 at the age of 46 due to complications related to diabetes. The pair first met as students in Harlem and later formed a musical partnership inspired by early hip-hop acts from their community.

They signed with Profile Records in 1987, one of the early labels focused on hip-hop music. Their breakthrough came the following year when It Takes Two entered the Billboard Hot 100 and reached number three on the Hot Dance/Club Songs chart.

The track has since been widely sampled by artists including Snoop Dogg and The Black Eyed Peas and has featured in multiple films. It was also certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America.