Rob Base, the rapper behind one of hip-hop's most sampled tracks, has died. Base died on Friday, May 22, after a battle with cancer. He was 59.
News of his death was shared via his official Instagram account: "Rob's music, energy, and legacy helped shape a generation and brought joy to millions around the world. Beyond the stage, he was a loving father, family man, friend, and creative force whose impact will never be forgotten."
Base rose to fame as one half of Rob Base and DJ E-Z Rock, childhood friends who met in fourth grade in Harlem. They released their first single "DJ Interview" in 1986, but their 1988 hit "It Takes Two" became their signature track.
"It Takes Two" blended hip-hop and house music around a vocal sample from Lyn Collins' 1972 hit "Think (About It)." The track reached Number Three on the Billboard Hot Dance/Club Songs chart.
The song's reach extended far beyond its initial release. Snoop Dogg, Gang Starr, Girl Talk, and 2NE1 all sampled the track. It appeared in the 2004 video game Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas, Sandra Bullock's 2009 film The Proposal, and the 2001 Marvel film Iron Man.
Rolling Stone ranked "It Takes Two" as Number 24 on its Greatest Hip-Hop Songs of All Time list. Questlove included it in his Top 50 Hip-Hop Songs. Teddy Riley produced the track.
Base's collaborator DJ E-Z Rock died in 2014 from complications related to diabetes. Their legacy remains through "It Takes Two."
