American rapper Rob Base, widely known for the 1988 hip-hop hit ‘It Takes Two,’ has died at the age of 59 after battling cancer.
Rob Base, born Robert Ginyard, reportedly passed away on Friday while surrounded by members of his family, according to a statement shared on his official Instagram page.
The statement described the late rapper as a devoted father, family man and influential music figure whose work left a lasting impact on generations of fans.
“Thank you for the music, the memories, and the moments that became the soundtrack to our lives,” the statement read.
Born in Harlem, New York, Rob Base gained global recognition as part of the hip-hop duo Rob Base and DJ E-Z Rock.
The group achieved worldwide fame following the release of ‘It Takes Two,’ a track credited with helping hip-hop music gain wider acceptance in clubs and mainstream pop culture.
The song climbed to number three on the Billboard Hot Dance/Club Songs chart and was later certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America.
Over the years, the track remained a pop culture staple, appearing in movies, television productions and video games, while also being sampled by artists such as Snoop Dogg and the Black Eyed Peas.
Following news of his death, tributes poured in from fans and celebrities across the entertainment industry.
Comedian Dane Cook described him as a performer who “rocked the microphone,” while former NFL star Deion Sanders referred to him as “a legend.”
Rob Base’s longtime collaborator, DJ E-Z Rock, whose real name was Rodney Bryce, died in 2014 from complications related to diabetes at the age of 56.
The pair had reportedly known each other since childhood and released their first single, “DJ Interview,” in 1986 before achieving massive success with “It Takes Two.”
In an earlier interview, Rob Base revealed that the famous song was created almost accidentally after the duo discovered the Lyn Collins sample shortly before recording the track.
He admitted at the time that he never imagined the song would become such a global success.
Rob Base is remembered as one of the influential figures who helped move hip-hop from the streets of New York into mainstream international culture.