Rob Base, Rapper Behind ‘It Takes Two,’ Dies at 59
Rob Base, the Harlem rapper whose 1988 hit “It Takes Two” became one of the most recognizable crossover records in hip-hop history, has died at 59.
The artist, born Robert Ginyard, died May 22 following a private battle with cancer, according to a statement shared through his official social media accounts. He had celebrated his birthday just four days earlier. Family members said he died surrounded by loved ones.
“Rob’s music, energy, and legacy helped shape a generation and brought joy to millions around the world,” the statement read. “Beyond the stage, he was a loving father, family man, friend, and creative force whose impact will never be forgotten.”
Though his catalog extended beyond a single hit, Rob Base’s legacy remains inseparable from “It Takes Two,” the explosive collaboration with DJ E-Z Rock that helped bring hip-hop into the mainstream at a pivotal cultural moment. Released in 1988, the track fused rap with house-influenced production and an instantly recognizable sample from Lyn Collins’ “Think (About It),” creating a record that moved effortlessly between radio, clubs, sporting events, film soundtracks, and eventually decades of pop culture nostalgia. The song became more than a chart success; it became one of the rare hip-hop records to function as a permanent cultural fixture, resurfacing across generations through sampling, licensing, and continued public use.
Born in Harlem on May 18, 1967, Ginyard came of age during hip-hop’s formative years in New York City. He met Rodney Bryce, later known as DJ E-Z Rock, while they were children, with the two reportedly becoming friends in elementary school. Inspired by the local rap scene and the emergence of early New York hip-hop acts, the pair began pursuing music together as teenagers. According to accounts from the time, seeing neighborhood rap groups successfully release records convinced them that a professional career might be possible. Ginyard bought a microphone, Bryce assembled DJ equipment, and the two began recording music independently.
After generating local attention with early releases including “DJ Interview” and “Make It Hot,” the duo recorded a demo for what would become “It Takes Two,” a track that quickly changed the trajectory of their careers. The singles’ commercial success led to a deal with Profile Records and the release of their debut album, It Takes Two, later that same year. The album reached No. 4 on Billboard’s Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart and produced additional hits, including “Joy and Pain” and “Get on the Dance Floor,” further establishing the duo during a period when rap music was rapidly expanding its commercial reach.
Rob Base & DJ E-Z Rock arrived at a moment when hip-hop was still defining its relationship with mainstream American audiences. Their music helped bridge rap and dance culture in a way that made both commercially viable to broader listeners without losing the energy that made the records work in clubs and urban radio. While other artists were equally critical to that transition, “It Takes Two” remains one of the clearest examples of that crossover moment.
Ginyard later pursued solo work, releasing The Incredible Base in 1989. While it did not match the commercial impact of his earlier work, he remained active in music, reuniting with DJ E-Z Rock in 1994 for Break of Dawn. That release failed to significantly reconnect with the marketplace, but Ginyard continued performing for years afterward, maintaining a visible presence on nostalgia tours and live festival circuits that celebrated hip-hop and pop acts from the 1980s and 1990s.
In recent years, he remained active through the I Love the 90s Tour, performing alongside artists including Vanilla Ice and Young MC. Outside performance, he worked through his production company, Funky Base, Inc., supporting emerging artists and pursuing projects beyond music, including executive producing the horror film Urban Flesh Eaters, released last year.
