"He was a loving father, family man, friend, and creative force."
Rob Base, the influential rapper known as one half of the pioneering hip-hop duo Rob Base & DJ E-Z Rock, died on May 22, 2026, at the age of 59. According to a statement posted on his Instagram account, he died surrounded by family following a private battle with cancer, four days after his 59th birthday.
Background and Career
Born Robert Ginyard on May 18, 1967, in Harlem, New York, Base met DJ E-Z Rock (Rodney "Skip" Bryce) in fifth grade. They formed a duo as teenagers, inspired by the group Crash Crew.
After gaining local attention with the songs "DJ Interview" and "Make It Hot," they recorded the demo for "It Takes Two" over two nights, which led to a recording deal with Profile Records in 1987.
The duo is best known for the 1988 single "It Takes Two." The song reached No. 3 on Billboard's Hot Dance/Club Songs chart and No. 36 on the Billboard Hot 100. It was certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America. Their follow-up single, "Get on the Dance Floor," also charted. The song has been sampled by artists including Snoop Dogg and The Black Eyed Peas, and has been used in multiple films.
Their debut album, It Takes Two, was released in 1988 and peaked at No. 4 on the Billboard Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart. Rob Base released his only solo album, The Incredible Base, in 1989. The duo reunited for the 1994 album Break of Dawn. DJ E-Z Rock died in 2014 at the age of 46 from complications related to diabetes.
Recent Activities
In recent years, Base remained active as a performer on the "I Love the 90's Tour," alongside artists such as Vanilla Ice and Young MC. He operated a production company, Funky Base, Inc., working with emerging artists. He also served as an executive producer for the independent horror film Urban Flesh Eaters, released in 2025.