By admin 
(Gray News) – Rob Base, the rapper best known for the 1988 hit “It Takes Two,” has died. He was 59.
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According to a statement, Base died Friday while surrounded by family after a private battle with cancer. He had celebrated his 59th birthday four days earlier.
“Rob’s music, energy, and legacy helped shape a generation and brought joy to millions around the world,” the statement said, adding that he was “a loving father, family man, friend, and creative force.”
Base, whose real name was Robert Ginyard, was part of the iconic Harlem hip-hop duo with DJ E-Z Rock.
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Base helped bridge hip-hop and house music as the genres pushed into the mainstream in the late 1980s. “It Takes Two” reached No. 3 on Billboard’s Hot Dance/Club Songs chart in 1988. The group later notched another club hit with “Get on the Dance Floor,” which topped that chart.
“It Takes Two” became a pop-culture staple, sampled by artists including Snoop Dogg and the Black Eyed Peas and featured in films such as “The Proposal” and “Iron Man 2.”
In recent years, Base continued performing, including as part of the “I Love the 90’s Tour.”
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