Rob Base & DJ EZ Rock

BIOGRAPHY

Rob Base (Robert Ginyard) and DJ E-Z Rock (Rodney "Skip" Bryce) grew up together in Harlem after Base relocated there from the Bronx in the fourth grade. Inspired by seeing local group the Crash Crew release a record, the teenagers formed their own act, with Base buying a microphone and E-Z Rock picking up a mixer and turntables. Their first single, "DJ Interview," led to a deal with Profile Records in 1987, and their 1988 debut album It Takes Two, anchored by its title track, became a platinum-certified hip-hop staple. The pair reunited for 1994's Break of Dawn, though it made little impact. DJ E-Z Rock died in 2014 from complications of diabetes; Rob Base died in 2026 after a private battle with cancer. "It Takes Two" has drawn lasting critical praise, topping Spin's 1989 list of the 100 Greatest Singles of All Time and later landing at number 116 on Rolling Stone's Top 500 Best Songs of All Time.

WHY THEY'RE COOL

Rob Base & DJ E-Z Rock are credited as pioneers of rap's crossover into the pop mainstream, and their signature song "It Takes Two" is frequently cited by critics as one of the greatest hip-hop singles ever made, with AllMusic's Stephen Thomas Erlewine noting the claim outright. Its 1989 number-one ranking on Spin's all-time singles list and later placement on Rolling Stone's Top 500 songs list underscore its enduring influence on hip-hop's history.

GEORGE'S PLAYS

First time on the station.

PLAYED ON WOKE1

• It Takes Two1 PLAY