Rob Base, the legendary rapper best known for the 1988 hip-hop hit It Takes Two, has died at the age of 59 following a private battle with cancer.
Gatekeepers News reports that the rapper, whose real name was Robert Ginyard, reportedly died on Friday surrounded by family, according to a statement shared on his official Instagram account. The statement described him as a “loving father, family man, friend, and creative force” whose music helped shape a generation.
Rob Base rose to global fame as one half of the influential hip-hop duo Rob Base & DJ E-Z Rock alongside DJ E-Z Rock. Their breakout song It Takes Two became one of the most iconic party anthems of the late 1980s and played a major role in bringing hip-hop into mainstream pop culture.
The song, released in 1988, reached the Billboard charts and later earned platinum certification. It was also widely sampled by several artists, including Snoop Dogg and The Black Eyed Peas, while appearing in movies, commercials and television shows over the years.
Tributes poured in across social media after news of his death emerged, with several figures in the hip-hop industry mourning the loss of the rap icon. DJ Jazzy Jeff and DJ Kid Capri were among those who paid tribute online.
Rob Base had celebrated his 59th birthday just days before his death. Despite his fame during the late 1980s and 1990s, he continued performing on nostalgic hip-hop tours and mentoring younger artists through his company, Funky Base Inc.
His longtime music partner, DJ E-Z Rock, died in 2014 from complications related to diabetes.
