Rob Base, the renowned hip-hop artist who made up half of the duo Rob Base & DJ E-Z Rock, has passed away at the age of 59.

On Friday, May 22, the It Takes Two rapper’s official Instagram page shared the news of his passing in a statement, revealing that he embraced death peacefully and was surrounded by his family.

Further, the statement shared that Base died after battling a private battle against cancer.

It began, “Today, we share the heartbreaking news that hip-hop legend Rob Base passed away peacefully on May 22, 2026, surrounded by family after a private battle with cancer. [a heart emoji]”

Base shaped “a generation and brought joy to millions around the world” through his “music, energy, and legacy.”

“Beyond the stage, he was a loving father, family man, friend, and creative force whose impact will never be forgotten,” they added.

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

It is pertinent to mention that the news of Rob Base’s death came just four days after he celebrated his birthday, as he posted a picture of himself and captioned it, Happy 59th Birthday to me [cake emoji]. God thank you for allowing me to see another year.”