Rob Base, rapper on classic hip-hop track "It Takes Two," dies at 59
Rob Base, the rapper known for the iconic hip-hop track "It Takes Two," has passed away at the age of 59. He died peacefully surrounded by family after a private battle with cancer, just days after celebrating his birthday. Tributes from fellow hip-hop artists have poured in, honoring his legacy and impact on music.
- ▪Rob Base was born Robert Grinyard and was a New York City native.
- ▪His song "It Takes Two," released in 1988, became a dancefloor anthem and peaked at #3 on the dance charts.
- ▪Rob Base's collaborator DJ EZ Rock passed away in 2014, and the duo's music has been widely covered and sampled by other artists.
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Local News Rob Base, rapper on classic hip-hop track "It Takes Two," dies at 59 By Jesse Zanger Jesse Zanger Managing Editor, CBS New York Jesse Zanger is the managing editor of CBSNewYork.com. Jesse has previously worked for the Fox News Channel and Spectrum News NY1. He covers regional news around the Tri-State Area, with a particular focus on breaking news and extreme weather. Read Full Bio Jesse Zanger Updated on: May 22, 2026 / 11:20 PM EDT / CBS New York Add CBS News on Google Rob Base, the MC whose lyrics lit up the dancefloor classic "It Takes Two" and got countless people moving worldwide, passed away Friday, a message posted on his social media said. He was 59, having just celebrated his birthday four days ago.
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