Rapper Rob Base died Friday at age 59 after a cancer diagnosis, according to a post on his social media. <\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Subscribe to read this story ad-free <\/p>\n
Get unlimited access to ad-free articles and exclusive content.<\/p>\n
![\"arrow\"](\"https:\/\/media-cldnry.s-nbcnews.com\/image\/upload\/rockcms\/2026-01\/arrow-f55fa5.svg\"){kind=icon}
<\/p>\n
The artist, whose real name is Robert Ginyard, was a prominent figure in the \u201880s hip-hop scene and is best known for the 1988 hit \u201cIt Takes Two.\u201d<\/p>\n
His death was announced on his Instagram<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u201cToday, we share the heartbreaking news that hip hop legend Rob Base passed away peacefully on May 22, 2026, surrounded by family after a private battle with cancer,\u201d the statement said.<\/p>\n He was credited in the statement for a musical legacy that \u201chelped shape a generation and brought joy to millions around the world.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cBeyond the stage, he was a loving father, family man, friend, and creative force whose impact will never be forgotten,\u201d the statement said.<\/p>\n He had celebrated his 59th birthday<\/a> on Monday.<\/p>\n The rapper, who hailed from Harlem, was part of a hip-hop duo with DJ E-Z Rock. <\/p>\n Their major hit, \u201cIt Takes Two,\u201d which blends hip-hop and house music, rose to No. 36 on the Billboard Hot 100 <\/a>and has since been sampled by other artists, including Snoop Dogg\u2019s \u201cI Wanna Rock\u201d and The Black Eyed Peas\u2019 \u201cRock That Body.\u201d It has been certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America. <\/p>\n DJ E-Z Rock, whose real name is Rodney \u201cSkip\u201d Bryce, died in 2014.<\/a><\/p>\n Base was still performing onstage and was part of the \u201cI Love the \u201890s Tour,\u201d<\/a> which featured fellow rap icons Vanilla Ice and Young MC. <\/p>\n He was also the executive producer of the 2025 independent film \u201cUrban Flesh Eaters<\/a>,\u201d according to his IMDb profile.<\/p>\n