Rob Base and DJ E-Z Rock were childhood friends from Harlem who, in 1988, released ‘It Takes Two,’ one of hip-hop’s most recognizable and enduring party records. Built on a propulsive sample, the song became a platinum crossover smash that helped define rap’s late-1980s dance era.
Key Facts
- Type: Hip-hop duo (Harlem)
- Known for: ‘It Takes Two’ (1988)
- Style: Late-1980s party/dance rap
- Status: Platinum crossover classic
Rob Base and DJ E-Z Rock
In present times, dance songs are not taken seriously in hip-hop, but they were a driving force that fueled the culture in the seventies and eighties. Many emcees released an array of classic dance tracks that stood the test of time. But 1988 was the year Rob Base and DJ E-Z Rock gave the world one of the most addictive and recognizable songs in history with “It Takes Two.”
Rob Base and DJ E-Z Rock were childhood friends who were original members of the group The Sure Shot Seven. Although they were youngsters when they initially joined, they remained in the group until no one was left but the two of them. They began recording together and eventually put out the underground song “DJ Interview” on the World To World label. The track gained notoriety and led them to a distribution deal with Profile Records.
Under the Profile umbrella, the duo released their biggest single to date, “It Takes Two.” The track spread like wildfire, ushering record sales of their debut album — which shared the same name — to the top of the charts. The single became one of the biggest hits of the year and was a massive club anthem, eventually reaching platinum status.
Following the success of their hit single, Rob Base and DJ E-Z Rock released another hit, “Joy and Pain,” in which they sampled the widely popular Frankie Beverly and Maze classic by the same name. They also released “Get On The Dance Floor,” which was not as successful as their other two singles but still performed well and helped push their debut album to platinum status as well.
Although the lyrics and beats on the album had more of a club and dance feel, Rob’s rhyming style earned him respect on the hip-hop scene. The album was full of soul-infused tracks and notable samples and had a huge crossover appeal that surpassed the rap genre.
The success that Rob Base and DJ E-Z Rock attained would soon be tested by legal and personal turbulence. The duo faced legal troubles because of the Frankie Beverly sample used for “Joy and Pain,” in which the singer threatened action against the rap stars. At the same time, DJ E-Z Rock stepped away from the limelight. Fans were told he left the group due to personal problems, though a definitive public explanation was never given, leaving Rob Base to continue on his own.
Rob attempted a solo career and released an album, The Incredible Base, in 1989, but was unable to generate the success of It Takes Two. His solo effort went Gold but did not pull him out of the shadow of his explosive debut. The two eventually reunited and tried to recapture the magic in later years, but after a failed reunion album, Break of Dawn, in 1994, they faded into the background.
The duo reemerged periodically over the years, continuing to perform and maintaining a devoted fanbase that kept “It Takes Two” alive in stadiums, halftime shows, and party playlists long after the charts had moved on. Some labeled them a one-hit wonder, but the platinum single proved otherwise — it withstood the test of time, showing up throughout pop culture for nearly four decades and helping put hip-hop on the map.
The Death of DJ E-Z Rock
Rodney “DJ E-Z Rock” Bryce died on April 27, 2014 in Manhattan. He was 46 years old. The cause of death was complications from diabetes, including a diabetic seizure. His passing was widely mourned across the hip-hop community, and tributes recognized his role in one of the genre’s most enduring records. Rob Base continued to perform and honor their shared legacy in the years that followed.
The Death of Rob Base
Rob Base — born Robert Ginyard — died on May 22, 2026. He was 59 years old. His team announced the news on his Instagram page, confirming he had passed peacefully surrounded by family after a private battle with cancer. The illness had been kept largely hidden, with many in his circle learning of his diagnosis only after his death. He was remembered across hip-hop media as one of the architects of the genre’s late-eighties crossover moment. With E-Z Rock gone since 2014 and Rob Base now gone as well, the chapter on one of hip-hop’s most recognizable duos is closed — but “It Takes Two” remains exactly what it always was: one of the few records that can still stop a room.
