American hip-hop icon Rob Base has died at the age of 59 following a battle with cancer.

The rapper, born Robert Ginyard, reportedly passed away on Friday surrounded by family members, according to a statement shared on his official Instagram page.

The statement described him as a devoted father, family man and influential figure in music whose legacy touched generations of fans worldwide.

“Thank you for the music, the memories, and the moments that became the soundtrack to our lives,” the statement read.

Born in Harlem, New York, Rob Base rose to global fame as one-half of the hip-hop duo Rob Base and DJ E-Z Rock.

The pair became internationally recognised after releasing the 1988 hit It Takes Two, a track widely credited with helping hip-hop break into mainstream pop culture and club music.

The song peaked at number three on the Billboard Hot Dance/Club Songs chart and later earned platinum certification from the Recording Industry Association of America.

Over the years, “It Takes Two” remained a pop culture favourite, featuring in films, television shows and video games, while also being sampled by artists including Snoop Dogg and Black Eyed Peas.

Tributes have continued to pour in following news of his death, with comedian Dane Cook praising him as a performer who “rocked the microphone,” while former NFL star Deion Sanders described him as “a legend.”

Rob Base’s longtime collaborator, DJ E-Z Rock, whose real name was Rodney Bryce, died in 2014 from diabetes-related complications at the age of 56.

The duo had known each other since childhood and released their debut single, “DJ Interview,” in 1986 before later achieving worldwide success with “It Takes Two.”

In a previous interview, Rob Base revealed that the hit track was created almost by accident after the duo stumbled upon the Lyn Collins sample shortly before recording.

He also admitted he never expected the song to become a global phenomenon.

Rob Base is widely remembered as one of the pioneering figures who helped elevate hip-hop from the streets of New York to international mainstream culture.