Rob Base Dies at 59: Hip-Hop Loses the Legend Behind It Takes Two

Hip-hop lost one of its foundational voices this week with the death of Rob Base, the Harlem-born rapper whose music helped transform rap from an emerging movement into a mainstream force. Best known as one half of the iconic duo Rob Base & DJ E-Z Rock, Base died at age 59 following what family statements described as a private battle with cancer. The news was confirmed through official social media channels and quickly triggered an outpouring of reactions across the hip-hop world.

For an entire generation of listeners, Rob Base became permanently attached to one of the most recognizable openings in rap history:

"I wanna rock right now..."

Within seconds, people knew exactly what song was coming.

Then came It Takes Two.

Released in 1988, the track did not simply become a hit record—it became a cultural event. Built around the famous Lyn Collins and James Brown-produced "Think (About It)" break, the song fused hip-hop energy with dance-floor momentum and arrived during a period when rap was still fighting for broader mainstream acceptance. Suddenly clubs, radio stations, parties, sports arenas, and audiences far outside traditional rap circles embraced a record that felt impossible to ignore. The song ultimately became one of the defining crossover moments of late-1980s hip-hop.

Long before platinum records and worldwide recognition, Rob Base—born Robert Ginyard—was simply a kid growing up in Harlem. He eventually met Rodney "Skip" Bryce, later known as DJ E-Z Rock, while still in school. Inspired by local New York rap groups and the city's rapidly growing scene, the pair developed a friendship that would eventually evolve into one of hip-hop's most memorable partnerships. They signed with Profile Records during the late 1980s and quickly built momentum through early releases before history arrived with It Takes Two.

The impact of that record proved unusually durable. Some songs dominate radio for a summer and disappear. It Takes Two seemed to enter permanent circulation. Over the decades it became embedded inside movies, commercials, sporting events, television, dance culture, and hip-hop itself. Artists sampled it. DJs never stopped playing it. Entire generations discovered the song long after its original release. Even listeners unfamiliar with Rob Base's name often instantly recognized the track once the beat dropped.

And Rob Base's catalog extended beyond one song. Records including Joy and Pain and Get on the Dance Floor helped define the duo's sound and pushed hip-hop further into club spaces. Their music carried a celebratory quality that felt huge during the era—a reminder that hip-hop could be energetic, playful, danceable, and larger than life. Get on the Dance Floor even climbed to the top of Billboard's dance chart, further proving the duo's crossover appeal.

Years later, Rob Base continued performing and remained a fixture on nostalgia tours including the popular I Love the '90s circuit. Unlike some artists tied to one era, he continued connecting with audiences who still reacted the same way once those opening bars began playing. Fans who first heard him in the late '80s brought children and grandchildren to shows. The music survived.

The loss carries additional emotional weight because DJ E-Z Rock passed away in 2014. The duo helped define a period when hip-hop was expanding rapidly and discovering new possibilities. Their partnership represented a moment when rap crossed boundaries and entered rooms it had never occupied before.

Tributes quickly poured in from artists and fans following news of Base's passing. Messages from figures across the hip-hop community remembered not only his contributions to music but his personality, energy, and influence. Family statements described him as a father, family man, creative force, and someone whose impact reached beyond recordings.

Hip-hop constantly evolves.

Sounds change.

Styles change.

Generations change.

But every era has records that permanently enter the foundation.

Rob Base helped create one of them.

And decades later, people still know every word.