Overview
- Rob Base died May 22, 2026 at age 59 after a private battle with cancer, his family announced in a statement on his official Instagram page.
- 'It Takes Two,' released in 1988 with DJ E‑Z Rock, became a multi‑platinum, cross‑genre anthem built on a Lyn Collins/James Brown break and peaked on Billboard dance charts while being widely sampled and licensed.
- Base rose from a childhood partnership in Harlem with DJ E‑Z Rock to mainstream success, released a solo album in 1989, reunited for a 1994 record, and maintained a public profile through touring.
- In recent years he toured on nostalgia packages, ran the production company Funky Base, Inc., and served as an executive producer on the 2025 film Urban Flesh Eaters; he is survived by his children De'Jené Ginyard and Robert Ginyard Jr.
- Condolences and tributes from fellow artists and fans flooded social media, and the continued presence of 'It Takes Two' in films, games and samples underscores Base's lasting cultural impact.