Rob Base, legend behind It Takes Two, dies at 59 after cancer battle
Rob Base, the rapper behind the 1988 hit It Takes Two, has died at the age of 59. Born Robert Grinyard in New York City, he passed away on Friday after a private battle with cancer. Family members were by his side at the time of his death. Base first met his musical partner DJ EZ Rock while both were still in school. Together, they released It Takes Two, a track that quickly became a dancefloor favourite. The song climbed to number three in the dance charts and has since been covered and sampled by countless artists.
DJ EZ Rock died in 2014 due to complications from diabetes. Their partnership, though cut short, left a lasting mark on hip-hop. News of Base’s death prompted an outpouring of tributes from fellow artists. Fat Joe, Kid Capri, and Masta Ace were among those who shared their condolences on social media.
Rob Base’s legacy lives on through It Takes Two, a song that defined an era of hip-hop. His collaboration with DJ EZ Rock shaped dance music in the late 1980s. The track remains one of the most sampled and celebrated anthems of its time.
