Hip hop lost another great artist: “It Takes Two” rapper Rob Base died at age 59 after a secret battle with cancer
Hip hop became more popular thanks in large part to the work of the Harlem rapper who sang “It Takes Two.”
Rob Base, a famous rap duo half of Rob Base and DJ E-Z Rock, has died at the age of 59 after a private battle with cancer. According to a statement released Thursday, the artist from Harlem died gently with his family by his side.
Born Robert Ginyard, Rob Base became one of the most important voices in late-1980s hip hop when he teamed up with DJ E-Z Rock, a childhood friend. They met in the fifth grade while they were both growing up in Harlem. They achieved international fame by performing homemade tracks and local shows, establishing themselves in the music business.
In an Instagram tribute, his family said that he was a “loving father, friend, and creative force whose impact will never be forgotten.” The news of his death came just a few days after his 59th birthday.
The duo’s big hit single “It Takes Two” in 1988 is what Rob Base is most famous for. It was a high-energy rap chant that became one of the most famous songs in hip hop history. This record, which used a sample of Lyn Collins’s “Think (About It),” went from rap radio to popular pop culture and helped bring hip hop to more people during a crucial time for the genre.
The song’s impact went far beyond when it was first released. “It Takes Two” has been sampled, referenced, and played over and over again in movies, commercials, sports events, and club playlists. Later, artists like Snoop Dogg and the Black Eyed Peas used parts of the song’s sound in their music. Records by the pair, such as “Get on the Dance Floor” and “Joy and Pain,” also did well.
Rob Base kept touring the country on nostalgia tours like the popular “I Love the ’90s Tour” after DJ E-Z Rock died in 2014 from complications tied to diabetes. In the last few years, he also used his company, Funky Base, Inc., to teach younger artists how to make music.
Rob Base’s death is another important figure from the golden age of hip-hop, but his music will always be a part of the society.
