Rob Base, the rapper identified for the licensed platinum music “It Takes Two,” died on Friday, in line with an announcement on his official social media account. He was 59.
Mr. Base had most cancers, in line with a post on Instagram.
Mr. Base’s hit music, “It Takes Two,” with DJ E-Z Rock, got here out in 1988 and was featured as one in every of Rolling Stone’s 500 finest songs of all time.
“The 1988 tune stays the one biggest use of a looped drum break in rap historical past,” the journal wrote in 2018. It known as it “the hip-hop equal” to the guitar solo in “Stairway to Heaven.”
The music was additionally included in VH1’s listing of the 100 biggest hip-hop songs in 2008.
The only was certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America for gross sales of a couple of million copies.
The music was typically played at Main League Baseball video games after a double play.
Different artists sampled the music, together with Mac Miller on “Play Ya Playing cards” and Snoop Dogg’s “I Wanna Rock.”
Mike WiLL Made-It, Lil Yachty and Carly Rae Jepsen remade the music for a Goal advert.
In “The Proposal,” Sandra Bullock and Ryan Reynolds jokingly sang the music collectively.
Tributes to Mr. Base from different rap and hip-hop artists flooded social media.
“I like this man,” rapper Fats Joe wrote on Instagram. “He was a giant inspiration.”
DJ Jazzy Jeff posted on social media “Wow…” with damaged coronary heart emojis.
Mr. Base was born Robert Ginyard on Could 18, 1967, in Harlem in Manhattan, in line with the social media put up and his talent agencyMovie star Expertise Company Inc.
He began his profession as a D.J., enjoying at events and golf equipment within the New York Metropolis space, in line with his company.
Mr. Base was a headliner of the “I Love the 90s Tour,” alongside Vanilla Ice, All-4-One and others.
A full listing of survivors for Mr. Base was not instantly out there. A consultant for Mr. Base couldn’t be instantly reached on Friday night time.
