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Rapper Rob Base Dies at 59 After Cancer Battle

Rob Base, half of the 1980s hip-hop duo Rob Base & DJ E-Z Rock, died Friday at age 59 following a private battle with cancer. His death was announced on his Instagram account.

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6 sources·May 23, 12:23 AM(6 days ago)·1m read
Rapper Rob Base Dies at 59 After Cancer Battlenypost.com
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Rob Base, whose real name was Robert Ginyard, died Friday at age 59 after a private battle with cancer. Their single “It Takes Two” reached No.

36 on the Billboard Hot 100 and No. 3 on the Hot Dance/Club Songs chart. The track blended hip-hop and house music and has since been sampled by artists including Snoop Dogg and The Black Eyed Peas.

DJ E-Z Rock, whose real name was Rodney “Skip” Bryce, died in 2014 at age 46. " — Instagram statement, May 22, 2026 (NBC News) Base had celebrated his 59th birthday four days before his death.

Key Facts

59
age at death on May 22, 2026
1988
year “It Takes Two” was released
Platinum
RIAA certification for “It Takes Two”
2014
year DJ E-Z Rock died at age 46

Story Timeline

3 events
  1. May 22, 2026

    Rob Base died at age 59 after a private battle with cancer.

    6 sourcesnypost.com · NBCNews · New York Times · NPR
  2. May 22, 2026

    His death was announced on his official Instagram account.

    6 sourcesnypost.com · NBCNews · New York Times · NPR
  3. May 18, 2026

    Base posted on Instagram celebrating his 59th birthday.

    2 sourcesnypost.com · NBCNews

Transparency Panel

Sources cross-referenced6
Confidence score83%
Synthesized bySubstrate AI
Word count99 words
PublishedMay 23, 2026, 12:23 AM

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