Rapper Rob Base dies from cancer at age 59

Hip-hop trailblazer Rob Base died after a cancer battle at age 59.

Objective Facts

Rob Base died after a battle with cancer at age 59. Base was one half of the Harlem hip-hop duo Rob Base & DJ E-Z Rock and was best known for the 1988 chart-topper "It Takes Two," a blend of hip-hop and house music that helped bring both genres into the mainstream. He passed away peacefully on Friday, surrounded by family after a private battle with cancer. He had celebrated his 59th birthday just days before his death. The song "It Takes Two" reached No. 3 on the Billboard Hot Dance/Club Songs chart and has since become a cultural touchstone, sampled by artists including Snoop Dogg and The Black Eyed Peas, and appeared in numerous films including "The Proposal" (2009) and "Iron Man 2" (2010).

Deep Dive

Rob Base, a Harlem native whose real name was Robert Ginyard, became one of the most recognizable voices in late-1980s hip-hop as one-half of the groundbreaking duo Rob Base & DJ E-Z Rock, and the group helped introduce rap music to mainstream audiences during a time when hip-hop was still fighting for widespread commercial acceptance. Rob Base & DJ E-Z Rock emerged during one of the most pivotal eras in hip-hop history in the late 1980s, which marked a transformative period for the genre as it evolved from block parties and underground radio broadcasts into a commercial force with major label support and regular rotation on MTV. "It Takes Two" exemplified this shift by skillfully blending rap vocals with danceable, sample-driven production that appealed not only to core hip-hop fans but also to listeners who had not previously embraced the genre, and the duo's breakthrough success helped open doors for other artists who adopted a similar accessible, party-oriented approach, which played a significant role in expanding hip-hop's commercial viability and cultural reach during the golden era. Rob Base did not enjoy a long career filled with multiple hit records—he had one major hit. Yet that single record outlasted trends, outlived its era, and became a permanent fixture in the cultural landscape. Few artists can claim such lasting impact from a single song. Beyond music, Rob represented a generation helping push Hip Hop toward mainstream acceptance without abandoning Black cultural roots. In recent years, Mr. Base remained active as a live performer, was part of the "I Love the '90s Tour," which featured fellow rap icons Vanilla Ice and Young MC, and also served as executive producer of the 2025 independent film "Urban Flesh Eaters." Following news of Rob Base's passing, tributes poured in across social media from musicians, DJs, and longtime hip-hop fans who credited his music with defining parties, radio playlists, and cultural moments throughout the late 1980s and early 1990s. Flavor Flav, Deion Sanders, and R.A. the Rugged Man were among those who shared heartfelt messages, and DJs, musicians, and longtime fans highlighted Base's role in shaping parties, radio playlists, and cultural moments that spanned multiple decades, with many users pointing out the song's enduring dominance on dance floors from the 1980s all the way into the 2020s.

OBJ SPEAKING

Create StoryTimelinesVoter ToolsRegional AnalysisPolicy GuideAll StoriesCommunity PicksUSWorldPoliticsBusinessHealthEntertainmentTechnologyAbout

Rapper Rob Base dies from cancer at age 59

Hip-hop trailblazer Rob Base died after a cancer battle at age 59.

May 22, 2026· Updated May 23, 2026
What's Going On

Rob Base died after a battle with cancer at age 59. Base was one half of the Harlem hip-hop duo Rob Base & DJ E-Z Rock and was best known for the 1988 chart-topper "It Takes Two," a blend of hip-hop and house music that helped bring both genres into the mainstream. He passed away peacefully on Friday, surrounded by family after a private battle with cancer. He had celebrated his 59th birthday just days before his death. The song "It Takes Two" reached No. 3 on the Billboard Hot Dance/Club Songs chart and has since become a cultural touchstone, sampled by artists including Snoop Dogg and The Black Eyed Peas, and appeared in numerous films including "The Proposal" (2009) and "Iron Man 2" (2010).

Objective Deep Dive

Rob Base, a Harlem native whose real name was Robert Ginyard, became one of the most recognizable voices in late-1980s hip-hop as one-half of the groundbreaking duo Rob Base & DJ E-Z Rock, and the group helped introduce rap music to mainstream audiences during a time when hip-hop was still fighting for widespread commercial acceptance. Rob Base & DJ E-Z Rock emerged during one of the most pivotal eras in hip-hop history in the late 1980s, which marked a transformative period for the genre as it evolved from block parties and underground radio broadcasts into a commercial force with major label support and regular rotation on MTV. "It Takes Two" exemplified this shift by skillfully blending rap vocals with danceable, sample-driven production that appealed not only to core hip-hop fans but also to listeners who had not previously embraced the genre, and the duo's breakthrough success helped open doors for other artists who adopted a similar accessible, party-oriented approach, which played a significant role in expanding hip-hop's commercial viability and cultural reach during the golden era.

Rob Base did not enjoy a long career filled with multiple hit records—he had one major hit. Yet that single record outlasted trends, outlived its era, and became a permanent fixture in the cultural landscape. Few artists can claim such lasting impact from a single song. Beyond music, Rob represented a generation helping push Hip Hop toward mainstream acceptance without abandoning Black cultural roots. In recent years, Mr. Base remained active as a live performer, was part of the "I Love the '90s Tour," which featured fellow rap icons Vanilla Ice and Young MC, and also served as executive producer of the 2025 independent film "Urban Flesh Eaters."

Following news of Rob Base's passing, tributes poured in across social media from musicians, DJs, and longtime hip-hop fans who credited his music with defining parties, radio playlists, and cultural moments throughout the late 1980s and early 1990s. Flavor Flav, Deion Sanders, and R.A. the Rugged Man were among those who shared heartfelt messages, and DJs, musicians, and longtime fans highlighted Base's role in shaping parties, radio playlists, and cultural moments that spanned multiple decades, with many users pointing out the song's enduring dominance on dance floors from the 1980s all the way into the 2020s.