Rob Base, real name Robert Ginyard, died at age 59 after battling cancer. He was known as one half of the Harlem duo Rob Base & DJ E-Z Rock, alongside DJ E-Z Rock (Rodney “Skip” Bryce). Their 1988 hit “It Takes Two” blended hip-hop and house music, reaching the Billboard Hot 100 and No. 3 on Billboard’s Hot Dance/Club Songs chart. The song later became widely sampled by artists including Snoop Dogg and The Black Eyed Peas and appeared in films. “It Takes Two” was certified platinum by the RIAA, and their follow-up single “Get on the Dance Floor” also performed strongly on club charts. DJ E-Z Rock died in 2014 from diabetes complications.
"Rob Base, a rapper and one half of the Harlem hip-hop duo Rob Base & DJ E-Z Rock, has died after a battle with cancer. He was 59. Base, whose real name was Robert Ginyard, was best known for the 1988 chart-topper "It Takes Two," a blend of hip-hop and house music that helped bring both genres into the mainstream."
""Rob's music, energy, and legacy helped shape a generation and brought joy to millions around the world," read a statement on his Instagram announcing his death. "Beyond the stage, he was a loving father, family man, friend, and creative force whose impact will never be forgotten.""
"The following year, "It Takes Two" landed in the Billboard Hot 100 and reached No. 3 on Billboard's Hot Dance/Club Songs chart. The song has since been sampled by other artists including Snoop Dogg and The Black Eyed Peas and has appeared in several films. It has been certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America."
"The two met as fifth grade students in Harlem and said they were inspired to make music by the success of another Harlem-based group, Crash Crew. They signed in 1987 with Profile Records, one of the earliest hip-hop labels. Their next single, "Get on the Dance Floor," saw similar success on the club songs chart."
Read at www.npr.org
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