🎤 Hip-Hop Legend Rob Base Dead at 59 After Private Cancer Battle 💔

Hip-hop legend Rob Base, best known for the iconic 1988 anthem “It Takes Two” alongside DJ E-Z Rock, has passed away at the age of 59 after a private battle with cancer.

According to a statement shared on his official Instagram page, the rapper — born Robert Ginyard — “passed away peacefully” on Friday while surrounded by family. The statement described him as not only a music pioneer whose energy and sound helped define an era, but also as a devoted father, friend, and creative force whose legacy will live on forever.

Rob Base rose to fame in the late 1980s with “It Takes Two,” one of the most recognizable party tracks in hip-hop history. Built around a sample of Lyn Collins’ “Think (About It),” the song became a global hit and helped the duo’s debut album earn platinum status. Classics like “Joy and Pain” and “Get on the Dance Floor” further cemented their place in rap history.

Over the years, “It Takes Two” continued to influence generations of artists, with the track later sampled by names including Snoop Dogg and Gang Starr. Following the duo’s split and later reunion, Rob Base also released his solo album “The Incredible Base,” which charted on Billboard’s R&B and Hip-Hop rankings.

Just days before his passing, Rob Base celebrated his 59th birthday on Instagram, writing: “Happy 59th Birthday to me … God thank you for allowing me to see another year.”

His longtime music partner DJ E-Z Rock passed away in 2014 due to complications from diabetes.

Thank you for the music, the memories, and one of the greatest hip-hop anthems of all time. Rest in peace, Rob Base.