Rob Base, the rapper best known for the 1988 hit “It Takes Two,” has died at age 59 after a private battle with cancer, his representatives announced on May 22, 2026. This news has been reported by multiple outlets, including People, NBC News, Billboard, and Variety.[1][4][7][8]
Key details
- Full name: Robert Ginyard
- Best known for: It Takes Two with DJ E-Z Rock
- Cause of death: Cancer (private battle, per social media statement)[4][1]
- Surrounded by family at the time of passing[4]
Context and legacy
- Rob Base rose to prominence in the late 1980s and helped bring hip-hop into a broader pop audience with “It Takes Two”.[8][1]
- He continued to perform, and his broader career included producing and touring, including appearances in 90s-2000s retrospectives and tours.[3][6]
- DJ E-Z Rock (Rodney Bryce) passed away earlier in 2014, making Base’s passing a notable moment in the duo’s history.[4]
If you’d like, I can:
- Pull the latest additional tributes or public responses from social media and major outlets.
- Create a quick timeline of Rob Base’s career highlights.
- Compile a short tribute summary suitable for social media or a memorial post.
Would you like me to proceed with one of these? I can also tailor a brief in memoriam piece if you specify the tone (somber, celebratory, or tribute-focused).
Sources
Rob Base, the New York rapper best known for his timeless hit “It Takes Two,” has died. Per Variety, Base, born Robert Ginyard, passed away today, just four days after his birthday, after a private cancer battle. He was 59. A message posted to Base’s Instagram account reads as follows: Today, we share the heartbreaking…
stereogum.comHe died peacefully on Friday surrounded by family after 'a private battle with cancer,' according to a statement shared on his social media.
www.nbcnews.comRob Base first rose to fame as one-half of the hip-hop duo Rob Base and DJ E-Z Rock, helping hip-hop crossover into the pop music realm.
americansongwriter.comRob Base, renowned for his 1988 hit "It Takes Two," passed away at 59 on May 22., US Buzz, Times Now
www.timesnownews.comRob Base, member of the hip-hop duo Rob Base & DJ E-Z Rock, has died at the age of 59 after a cancer diagnosis he kept private.
people.com