Rob Base & DJ E-Z Rock

Rob Base & DJ E-Z Rock were an American hip hop duo from Harlem, New York City. Rob Base is the stage name of Robert Ginyard (b. 1967) and DJ E-Z Rock was Rodney "Skip" Bryce (1967–2014). They are best known for the 1988 hit "It Takes Two", a single that was a top 40 hit and has been certified platinum by the RIAA. That song was a part of the duo's album of the same name, which also has been certified platinum. They are known for being pioneers of the crossover success that rap music would have in the popular music mainstream.[1]

Rob Base & DJ E-Z Rock
Rob Base (left) and DJ E-Z Rock in 2006
Rob Base (left) and DJ E-Z Rock in 2006
Background information
OriginNew York City, U.S.
GenresHip hop
Years active1985–2014
LabelsProfile Records, Funky Base Records
Past members
  • Rob Base
  • DJ E-Z Rock (deceased)

Career

The duo's first U.S. single and release was "DJ Interview", appearing on World to World, which later got them a recording contract with Profile Records in 1987. The duo was assisted by a long time friend from New Jersey, producer David Wynn. David Wynn produced three songs on their debut album and five songs on their sophomore album.

The first Profile release was "It Takes Two".[2] It used multiple samples from the James Brown and Lyn Collins 1972 song "Think (About It)".[2] The track first became a regional hit and then slowly climbed the Billboard Hot 100, picking up a multi-platinum single certification. The song also peaked at No. 3 on the Hot Dance Music/Club Play chart.

An album, also called It Takes Two, was quickly put together and it produced a significant follow-up hit, "Joy and Pain", which sampled a song of the same name by Maze featuring Frankie Beverly, as well as "Put the Music Where Your Mouth Is" by The Olympic Runners.[2] It also hit the top 10 on the dance chart and climbed to No. 58 on the Hot 100. "Get On the Dance Floor", which sampled "Shake Your Body (Down To The Ground)" by The Jacksons, produced by David Wynn (DJ Wynn), a track released to clubs in between the two singles, hit No. 1 on the Hot Dance Music/Club Play chart in 1989. Boosted by those singles, the It Takes Two album went platinum seven times over.

Base responded in 1989 with The Incredible Base, his debut solo album.[2] It did not sell as well as It Takes Two.[2] One song from the album hit the dance chart in late 1989: "Turn It Out (Go Base)", credited only to Rob Base.

In 2008, their song "It Takes Two" was ranked number 37 on VH1's 100 greatest songs of hip hop.[3]

Personal lives

Rob Base was born Robert Ginyard on May 18, 1967. In the fourth grade, he moved from the Bronx to Harlem where he became a classmate of DJ E-Z Rock.[4] He attended Harlem public schools and loved music. Influenced by rap, he began his journey and performed in talent shows and at as many open mic or hip-hop events as he could. His first child, De'Jené Ginyard, was born in 1989 to his then-girlfriend Rhonda Dunbar, with whom he was in a relationship from 1986 to 1990. In 1991, Base met April, and in 1992, they had a son, Robert Ginyard Jr. They subsequently took guardianship of April's cousin Dysell. Base and April married and remained together until her death in September 2013.[5]

DJ E-Z Rock died on April 27, 2014, at age 46 after a diabetic seizure.[6]

Discography

Studio albums
Year Album details Peak chart
positions		 Certifications
(sales threshold)
US
[7]		 US R&B
[8]
1988 It Takes Two 31 4
1989 The Incredible Base
  • Release date: November 17, 1989
  • Label: Profile Records
 50 20
1994 Break of Dawn
  • Release date: September 13, 1994
  • Label: Funky Base Records
 — —
"—" denotes releases that did not chart

Singles
Year Single Peak chart positions Certifications
(sales threshold)		 Album
US
[10]		 US Dance
[11]		 US Rap
[12]		 US R&B
[13]		 UK
[14]
1988 "It Takes Two" 36 3 x 17 24 It Takes Two
"Get on the Dance Floor" — 1 6 11 14
"Joy and Pain" 58 9 5 11 47
1989 "Turn It Out (Go Base)"
(as Rob Base)		 — 23 4 16 — The Incredible Base
1990 "Get Up and Have a Good Time"
(as Rob Base)		 — — — 28 —
"Outstanding"
(as Rob Base)		 — — — — —
1994 "Break of Dawn" — — — — — Break of Dawn
1999 "Ready 2 Party" — — — — — (single only)
"—" denotes releases that did not chart. "x" denotes that chart did not exist at the time.

References
  1. Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "It Takes Two – Rob Base, Rob Base & DJ E-Z Rock | Listen, Appearances, Song Review". AllMusic. Retrieved May 14, 2014.
  2. Colin Larkin, ed. (1998). The Virgin Encyclopedia of Dance Music (First ed.). Virgin Books. pp. 287/8. ISBN 0-7535-0252-6.
  3. Jim Macnie (September 24, 2008). "VH1′s 100 Greatest Hip Hop Songs Ever". VH1. Retrieved August 18, 2014.
  4. Emmanuel, C. M. (May 2, 2014). "Rob Base Remembers DJ E-Z Rock And The Making Of "It Takes Two"". XXL. Retrieved October 14, 2023.
  5. "Celebrity Parents Exclusive: Hip Hop Legend Rob Base". Archived from the original on February 13, 2011.
  6. Jason Newman (April 27, 2014). "DJ E-Z Rock of 'It Takes Two' Fame Dead at 46". Rolling Stone. Retrieved May 14, 2014.
  7. "Rob Base - Billboard 200". Billboard. Retrieved February 14, 2023.
  8. "Rob Base - Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums". Billboard. Retrieved February 14, 2023.
  9. "American certifications – Rob Base". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved February 14, 2023.
  10. "Rob Base - Billboard Hot 100". Billboard. Retrieved February 14, 2023.
  11. "Rob Base - Dance Club Songs". Billboard. Retrieved February 14, 2023.
  12. "Rob Base - Hot Rap Songs". Billboard. Retrieved February 14, 2023.
  13. "Rob Base - Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs". Billboard. Retrieved February 14, 2023.
  14. "ROB BASE & DJ E-Z ROCK | full Official Chart History | Official Charts Company". Official Charts. Retrieved February 14, 2023.
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