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.comRob Base, the hip-hop artist best known for the 1988 hit “It Takes Two” with DJ E-Z Rock, has died at age 59 after a private cancer battle. The announcement appeared on his social media accounts and was reported by multiple outlets in May 2026. [Sources include NBC News, Variety, Billboard, and associated outlets published May 21–22, 2026.]
Key details
- Cause: Private battle with cancer (as stated in the official posts).
- Death date: May 22, 2026 (reported by outlets as the date of death; some reports note the announcement came May 21–22 depending on time zones).
- Early life: Born Robert Ginyard in Harlem; rose to fame as part of Rob Base & DJ E-Z Rock, with “It Takes Two” becoming a hip-hop staple.
- Legacy: Influential late-1980s/early-1990s track that helped bring hip-hop into the mainstream; continued touring and performances in the years leading up to his passing.
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