Rob Base, 'It Takes Two' rapper, dies at 59 | FOX 13 Tampa Bay
Rapper Rob Base helped bring hip hop into the mainstream with the 1988 hit song "It Takes Two," which later became a pop culture staple.
www.fox13news.comI can help with this. Here’s the latest on Rob Base.
- Rob Base, the rapper best known for It Takes Two with DJ E-Z Rock, has reportedly died at age 59 after a private battle with cancer. The announcements circulated on May 21–22, 2026, and cited that he died peacefully surrounded by family.[2][4][7]
- Multiple outlets confirmed the news and noted the timing around his 59th birthday, which occurred a few days earlier on May 18, 2026.[4][6][9]
- The statements attributed the death to cancer and highlighted his impact on hip-hop and his enduring legacy, with friends and fans paying tribute to his music and influence.[9][10][2]
If you’d like, I can pull a few more sources or summarize how his work, especially It Takes Two, shaped hip-hop and dance music. Do you want a short timeline of key moments in his career as well?
Citations:
- Rob Base dies at 59 after private cancer battle.[4]
- It Takes Two rapper Rob Base dies at 59.[2]
- UK/US coverage of Rob Base death announcement.[9]