Hip-hop legend dies aged 59 after private battle with cancer

EntertainmentMusic
23 May 2026 • 7:25 PM MYT
The Independent
The Independent

The world’s most free-thinking newspaper

Hip-hop legend dies aged 59 after private battle with cancer

  • Hip-hop legend Rob Base, widely recognised for the 1988 party anthem "It Takes Two", passed away peacefully on 22 May 2026 at the age of 59, following a private battle with cancer.
  • His death was announced through an Instagram statement, which celebrated his profound impact on a generation through his music, energy, and legacy, also noting his role as a loving father and family man.
  • Born Robert Ginyard, he formed a musical duo with DJ E-Z Rock (Rodney "Skip" Bryce), whom he met in Harlem, and they secured a recording contract with Profile Records in 1987.
  • Their debut release for the label, "It Takes Two", became a significant hit, reaching number 3 on the Billboard Hot Dance/Club Songs chart in 1988 and has since been extensively sampled and featured in various films.
  • Rob Base and DJ E-Z Rock continued their success with tracks such as "Joy and Pain" and "Get On The Dance Floor", selling over a million copies of their 1988 debut album, also titled It Takes Two.

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