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‘It Takes Two’ Rapper Rob Base Dies at 59
The Harlem-born rapper died after battling cancer, four days after his birthday, and helped bring hip-hop into the mainstream with a platinum hit.
- Robert Ginyard, the Harlem-born rapper known as Rob Base, died Friday at age 59 after battling cancer, just four days after celebrating his birthday on May 18.
- Ginyard and childhood friend Rodney Bryce, who performed as DJ E-Z Rock, met in grade school and created the 1988 platinum-selling hit 'It Takes Two,' reaching No. 1 on the Billboard Hot Dance/Club Songs chart.
- The track maintained cultural relevance for decades, appearing in the 2009 film The Proposal and being sampled by Snoop Dogg; Ginyard recently worked as executive producer on the 2025 horror film Urban Flesh Eaters.
- His son Rob Ginyard Jr. posted on Instagram Stories that 'Rob's music, energy, and legacy helped shape a generation and brought joy to millions around the world,' describing him as a 'creative force.'
- Ginyard's death marks another loss in hip-hop, following his longtime collaborator Rodney Bryce's death in 2014 at age 46 from complications related to diabetes.
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The Frederick News-PostReposted by 
The Philadelphia Sunday Sun
The Philadelphia Sunday Sun‘It Takes Two’ rapper Rob Base, who helped bring hip-hop mainstream, dies at 59
Rapper Rob Base has died after a battle with cancer. He was 59. His team shared the news of his death on his Instagram page. Base was one half of the Harlem hip-hop duo Rob Base & DJ E-Z Rock.…
·Georgia, United States
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MC Lyte Discusses Impact of Rob Base Following His Death
MC Lyte is paying tribute to Rob Base after his death last week ... saying the loss hits even harder because of the massive mark he left on hip hop culture. We caught up with MC Lyte in NYC Tuesday ... and she made it clear Rob wasn’t just…
·Los Angeles, United States
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Total News Sources13
Leaning Left2Leaning Right2Center6Last UpdatedBias Distribution60% Center
Bias Distribution
- 60% of the sources are Center
60% Center
L 20%
C 60%
R 20%
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