Today, we lost a true hip-hop pioneer. Rob Base has passed away at the age of 59 after a private battle with cancer.
For many of us, Rob Base wasn’t just part of the soundtrack of the late 80s; he was the soundtrack. When “It Takes Two” exploded in 1988, it changed everything. The energy, the beats, the call-and-response vocals, the pure party atmosphere, it became one of those rare records that crossed every line. Hip-hop, dance clubs, radio, roller rinks, house parties, cars with booming bass, everybody knew it. Decades later, the moment that beat drops still fills dance floors instantly.
Alongside DJ E-Z Rock, Rob helped bring hip-hop into the mainstream while keeping the music joyful, raw, and authentic. Songs like “Joy and Pain,” “Get On The Dance Floor,” and of course “It Takes Two” remain woven into pop culture and DJ history.
What made Rob Base special was that his music never felt dated. It still sounds alive. It still sounds fun. That kind of magic is rare.
It’s especially heartbreaking knowing he joins his longtime musical partner, DJ E-Z Rock, who passed away in 2014. Together, they created records that defined an era and continue to inspire artists, DJs, and music fans around the world.
Thank you, Rob, for the music, the memories, and for giving us some of the greatest party records ever pressed onto vinyl.
Rest in peace.
Robert Ginyard
May 18, 1967 – May 22, 2026
