Rob Base, the Harlem rapper whose 1988 single “It Takes Two” became one of hip-hop’s most recognizable party records, has died at 59.
His family announced that the artist died Friday, May 22, after a private battle with cancer. The news marks the loss of a key figure from hip-hop’s late 1980s rise into mainstream pop culture.
Born Robert Ginyard, Rob Base found major success alongside DJ E-Z Rock with “It Takes Two,” a track built around a Lyn Collins sample that became a dance floor staple. Its call-and-response energy helped the song move beyond rap radio and into clubs, movies, television, commercials, and sports arenas.
The duo also released the album “It Takes Two,” which helped define an upbeat, crowd-moving sound during a major growth period for hip-hop. DJ E-Z Rock died in 2014.
Rob Base’s biggest hit remained closely tied to his name for decades, giving him a lasting place in music history.