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Posted on 05/22/2026 4:38:38 PM PDT by nickcarraway
Rob Base, the legendary half of Rob Base & DJ E-Z Rock, passes away at 59 after a private cancer battle.
Legendary rapper Rob Base left us on May 22, 2026, and Hip-Hop lost one of its most essential architects that day.
The legendary half of Rob Base & DJ E-Z Rock passed away peacefully at age 59 while surrounded by family, following a private battle with cancer.
Just four days before his death, he’d celebrated his 59th birthday, still carrying the energy and spirit that defined his entire career in music.
Growing up in Harlem with DJ E-Z Rock, Base and his partner met in fifth grade and stayed connected through everything that came next.
They watched the Crash Crew release a record as teenagers and thought to themselves that they could do the same thing, so Base grabbed a microphone while
E-Z Rock picked up a mixer and turntables. After their early tracks “DJ Interview” and “Make It Hot” started getting local attention, they crafted the demo for “It Takes Two” in just about two nights, which led directly to a deal with Profile Records.
That song became everything.
“It Takes Two” hit No. 3 on the Billboard Hot Dance/Club Songs chart in 1988 and their debut album of the same name peaked at No. 4 on the Billboard Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart.
The album also spawned “Get on the Dance Floor,” which topped that same chart, and “Joy and Pain,” which showed the duo’s range and versatility.
The track has been a staple in Hip-Hop and pop clubs for decades and has appeared in films like “The Proposal” and “Iron Man 2,” cementing its place as a cultural touchstone that transcends generations.
Rob Base released his solo album The Incredible Base in November 1989, then reunited with E-Z Rock for Break of Dawn in 1994, though that project didn’t capture the same magic.
He stayed active performing with the “I Love the 90’s Tour” alongside Vanilla Ice, All-4-One, and Young MC, and he founded Funky Base, Inc., where he worked with up-and-coming artists to help shape the next generation.
When DJ E-Z Rock passed away in 2014 from complications of diabetes, Rob Base carried their legacy forward with every performance and production credit.
Rob Base and E-Z Rock were instrumental in cross-pollinating Hip-Hop and house music during the 1980s, bringing both genres to mainstream audiences at a time when that fusion felt revolutionary and necessary.
His production company continued that mission right up until his death, proving that his commitment to the culture never wavered.
The family statement said it best: “Rob’s music, energy, and legacy helped shape a generation and brought joy to millions around the world.”
His impact on Hip-Hop production and the dance floor will echo forever through every sample, every remix, and every party that starts with those opening bars.
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Lyn Collins - Think (About It)
The song is based on a sample of the music from this song, but it also includes her vocal line.
This song was written by James Brown. I wonder how much Brown, and now his estate, gets from all the music that samples his song. I bet it feels good to get all those checks in the mail.
Clyde Stubblefield played the drums on Funky Drummer, the most sampled drum break of all time. But James Brown gets all the money, since he wrote the song. But it's not like he wrote the drum break, Stubblefield created that. Just like Diddy sampled only the actual guitar of Andy Summers, but Sting gets all the money, as a credited composer.
“Legendary”????
Never heard of him.
“Legendary” is one of the most overused and abused words in today’s journalism.
It never happened, sad I didn't fulfill my dreams. 😏
Steve Seattle, is that you? What happened?
RIP, Rob Base.
That’s quite bit older than the end of most cRappers.
You are not wrong.
I supposed he’s “legendary” to somebody… but … yeah, never mind…
Safe and effective.
These days, any person who has f*cked on screen is a porn star and any rapper who has rapped on screen is legendary.
And Icon..............
10/24/2025, 6:48:50 PM by Steve_Seattle ....
Was Steve_Seattle’s last post ...
Steve_Seattle_1 signed up on 10-31-25
Hmmmm ...
59 is younger than I thought he was.
It Takes Two was a good song.
Now that was an old school jam. RIP.
Yup. Legendary rapper is like saying legendary turd bucket.
Last fall I had to get a new computer because Windows 10 was phased out, and I wasn’t quite sure how to move my old FR account to the new computer, so I made a slight change in my screen name and set up a new account.
That is a great analogy… in rap circles, his name would T’Urd B’U’Ket…
Because, like, you know, adding apostrophes, like, adds cool… Or something… you know…
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