The Lasting Beat of a Hip Hop Pioneer Rob Base's passing at 59 serves as a poignant reminder that even in an era where hip hop has become ubiquitous, its pioneers are rapidly disappearing.
As one half of the influential Harlem duo Rob Base & DJ E Z Rock, he played a significant role in bringing hip hop to the mainstream with their iconic 1988 hit "It Takes Two.
" The collaboration between Base and DJ E Z Rock was more than just a partnership – it was a creative synergy born out of shared experiences as fifth grade students in Harlem.