Rob Base, ‘It Takes Two’ rapper, dies at 59
Rapper Rob Base helped bring hip hop into the mainstream with the 1988 hit song "It Takes Two," which later became a pop culture staple.
www.fox2detroit.comDirect answer: Rob Base, the rapper best known for “It Takes Two,” has died in May 2026 at age 59 after a private battle with cancer.
Context and quick recap:
- Rob Base (Robert Ginyard) passed away around May 22, 2026, with reports noting a private cancer diagnosis and that he died surrounded by family.[2][3]
- He rose to prominence as one half of the duo Rob Base & DJ E-Z Rock, whose 1988 hit “It Takes Two” became a defining track of hip-hop’s late 1980s era.[1][3]
- Coverage from multiple outlets confirms the death and mentions the timing near his birthday (May 18) and the private nature of the illness.[3][7][2]
Notable sources you can check for details:
- People: Rob Base dies at 59 after private cancer diagnosis.[2]
- Variety: Rob Base dead, It Takes Two rapper dies at 59.[7]
- NBC News, Billboard, Hollywood Reporter, and Billboard entries also report the news and provide bios and tributes.[5][6][8]
If you’d like, I can summarize the key tributes from artists and provide a brief timeline of Rob Base’s career highlights.