Hip-hop legend dies aged 59 after private battle with cancer
Obit Rob Base (2022 Invision)
Hip-hop legend Rob Base, widely recognised for the 1988 party anthem “It Takes Two”, passed away peacefully on 22 May 2026 at the age of 59, following a private battle with cancer.
His death was announced through an Instagram statement, which celebrated his profound impact on a generation through his music, energy, and legacy, also noting his role as a loving father and family man.
Born Robert Ginyard, he formed a musical duo with DJ E-Z Rock (Rodney “Skip” Bryce), whom he met in Harlem, and they secured a recording contract with Profile Records in 1987.
Their debut release for the label, “It Takes Two”, became a significant hit, reaching number 3 on the Billboard Hot Dance/Club Songs chart in 1988 and has since been extensively sampled and featured in various films.
Rob Base and DJ E-Z Rock continued their success with tracks such as “Joy and Pain” and “Get On The Dance Floor”, selling over a million copies of their 1988 debut album, also titled It Takes Two.
.jpg?quality=75&width=83&auto=webp%2083w)