Rob Base and DJ E-Z Rock
Encyclopedia
Rob Base and DJ E-Z Rock are a hip-hop
duo
from Harlem
, New York
who are best known for their hit "It Takes Two
." The duo consists of Rob Base (Robert Ginyard, born May 18, 1967) and DJ E-Z Rock (Rodney "Skip" Bryce).
single
and release was "DJ Interview," appeared on World to World, which later got them a recording contract
with Profile Records
in 1987.
The first Profile release was "It Takes Two
". It uses multiple samples from the James Brown
and Lyn Collins
1972 song "Think (About It)
." The track first became a regional hit and then slowly climbed the Billboard Hot 100
, eventually topping the chart and picking up a multi-platinum single certification. The song also peaked at #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
. It also hit the Top 10 on the dance chart and climbed to #38 on the Hot 100. "Get On the Dance Floor," a track released to clubs in between the two singles, hit #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. However, vicious rumors started to circulate that Rob Base had legal problems for using samples from Maze's Frankie Beverly for the hit "Joy and Pain", and he had his own personal problems. DJ E-Z Rock also was forced to leave the group due to his own personal issues, so Rob Base was left to be a solo artist.
He responded in 1989 with The Incredible Base
, his debut solo album. It did not sell as well as It Takes Two. One song from the album hit the dance chart in late 1989: "Turn It Out (Go Base)," credited only to Rob Base.
Rob Base and DJ E-Z Rock had a reunion album in 1994 with Break of Dawn
; however, the album did not do well commercially.
In 2008, their song "It Takes Two" was ranked number 37 on VH1
's 100 greatest songs of hip hop.
The duo recently performed in Boston
with C+C Music Factory
.
Hip hop music
Hip hop music, also called hip-hop, rap music or hip-hop music, is a musical genre consisting of a stylized rhythmic music that commonly accompanies rapping, a rhythmic and rhyming speech that is chanted...
duo
Duet (music)
A duet is a musical composition for two performers. In classical music, the term is most often used for a composition for two singers or pianists; with other instruments, the word duo is also often used. A piece performed by two pianists performing together on the same piano is referred to as...
from Harlem
Harlem
Harlem is a neighborhood in the New York City borough of Manhattan, which since the 1920s has been a major African-American residential, cultural and business center. Originally a Dutch village, formally organized in 1658, it is named after the city of Haarlem in the Netherlands...
, New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
who are best known for their hit "It Takes Two
It Takes Two (Rob Base & DJ E-Z Rock song)
"It Takes Two" is a 1988 hip hop song by Rob Base and DJ E-Z Rock and produced by Teddy Riley that was later certified platinum. The song samples heavily from Lyn Collins' 1972 song "Think ", using multiple drum breaks, the well known "Woo! Yeah!" sample, as well as the lyric sung by Collins which...
." The duo consists of Rob Base (Robert Ginyard, born May 18, 1967) and DJ E-Z Rock (Rodney "Skip" Bryce).
Career
Their first U.S.United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
single
Single (music)
In music, a single or record single is a type of release, typically a recording of fewer tracks than an LP or a CD. This can be released for sale to the public in a variety of different formats. In most cases, the single is a song that is released separately from an album, but it can still appear...
and release was "DJ Interview," appeared on World to World, which later got them a recording contract
Recording contract
A recording contract is a legal agreement between a record label and a recording artist , where the artist makes a record for the label to sell and promote...
with Profile Records
Profile Records
Profile Records was a record label that specialized in many types of urban-oriented music, such as hip hop, active until 1996..- History :In 1980, at 23 years old, after working briefly for MCA, Cory Robbins was looking to start a record label. He invited his songwriter friend Steve Plotnicki to be...
in 1987.
The first Profile release was "It Takes Two
It Takes Two (Rob Base & DJ E-Z Rock song)
"It Takes Two" is a 1988 hip hop song by Rob Base and DJ E-Z Rock and produced by Teddy Riley that was later certified platinum. The song samples heavily from Lyn Collins' 1972 song "Think ", using multiple drum breaks, the well known "Woo! Yeah!" sample, as well as the lyric sung by Collins which...
". It uses multiple samples from the James Brown
James Brown
James Joseph Brown was an American singer, songwriter, musician, and recording artist. He is the originator of Funk and is recognized as a major figure in the 20th century popular music for both his vocals and dancing. He has been referred to as "The Godfather of Soul," "Mr...
and Lyn Collins
Lyn Collins
Lyn Collins was an African American soul singer best known for working with James Brown in the 1970s. Contrary to some reports, she is not related to Bootsy Collins, nor Catfish Collins....
1972 song "Think (About It)
Think (About It)
"Think " is a funk song recorded by Lyn Collins and released as a single on James Brown's People Records in 1972. The recording was produced by Brown and featured instrumental backing from his band The J.B.'s...
." The track first became a regional hit and then slowly climbed the Billboard Hot 100
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
, eventually topping the chart and picking up a multi-platinum single certification. The song also peaked at #3 on the Hot Dance Music/Club Play chart.
An album, also called It Takes Two
It Takes Two (album)
It Takes Two is the debut album released by hip hop duo, Rob Base and DJ E-Z Rock. It was released in 1988 for Profile Records and featured production from DJ E-Z Rock, Rob Base, Donald "O" Bowden and Thomas Dean. The singles that were released were "Joy and Pain", "Get on the Dance Floor" and the...
, 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
Maze (band)
Maze a soul / quiet storm band, also known alternately as Maze featuring Frankie Beverly and Frankie Beverly and Maze, was established in San Francisco, California in the early 1970s.-Career:...
featuring Frankie Beverly
Frankie Beverly
Frankie Beverly is an American singer, musician, songwriter, and producer, known primarily for his recordings with the soul and funk band, Maze.-Early life and career:...
, as well as "Put The Music Where Your Mouth Is" by The Olympic Runners
The Olympic Runners
-External links:*...
. It also hit the Top 10 on the dance chart and climbed to #38 on the Hot 100. "Get On the Dance Floor," a track released to clubs in between the two singles, hit #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. However, vicious rumors started to circulate that Rob Base had legal problems for using samples from Maze's Frankie Beverly for the hit "Joy and Pain", and he had his own personal problems. DJ E-Z Rock also was forced to leave the group due to his own personal issues, so Rob Base was left to be a solo artist.
He responded in 1989 with The Incredible Base
The Incredible Base
The Incredible Base is the second album by Rob Base. It was released in 1989 by Profile Records and featured production from Rob Base and William Hamilton...
, his debut solo album. It did not sell as well as It Takes Two. One song from the album hit the dance chart in late 1989: "Turn It Out (Go Base)," credited only to Rob Base.
Rob Base and DJ E-Z Rock had a reunion album in 1994 with Break of Dawn
Break of Dawn (Rob Base and DJ E-Z Rock album)
Break of Dawn is the third and final album released by Rob Base and DJ E-Z Rock. It was released on September 13, 1994 for Rob Base's label, Funky Base Records and featured production by DJ E-Z Rock, Rob Base, Al Dellentash, Dave Kowolski, Kyle Robinson and Jeff Dovner...
; however, the album did not do well commercially.
In 2008, their song "It Takes Two" was ranked number 37 on VH1
VH1
VH1 or Vh1 is an American cable television network based in New York City. Launched on January 1, 1985 in the old space of Turner Broadcasting's short-lived Cable Music Channel, the original purpose of the channel was to build on the success of MTV by playing music videos, but targeting a slightly...
's 100 greatest songs of hip hop.
The duo recently performed in Boston
Boston
Boston is the capital of and largest city in Massachusetts, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The largest city in New England, Boston is regarded as the unofficial "Capital of New England" for its economic and cultural impact on the entire New England region. The city proper had...
with C+C Music Factory
C+C Music Factory
C+C Music Factory is a dance-pop and hip hop group formed in 1989 by David Cole and Robert Clivillés which stopped recording 1996, following Cole's death...
.
Current Life
Rob Base has been married for 21 years (as of 2011) to his wife April, and they have two children, Dejene and Robert, Jr. In addition, they serve as guardians for April's younger cousin, Dysell.Studio albums
| Year | Album details | Peak chart positions |
Certifications Music recording sales certification Music recording sales certification is a system of certifying that a music recording has shipped or sold a certain number of copies, where the threshold quantity varies by type and by nation or territory .Almost all countries follow variations of the RIAA certification categories,... (sales threshold) |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US Billboard 200 The Billboard 200 is a ranking of the 200 highest-selling music albums and EPs in the United States, published weekly by Billboard magazine. It is frequently used to convey the popularity of an artist or groups of artists... |
US R&B Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums is a chart published by Billboard magazine that ranks R&B and hip hop albums based on sales compiled by Nielsen SoundScan. The name of the chart was changed from Top R&B Albums in 1999... |
|||
| 1988 | It Takes Two It Takes Two (album) It Takes Two is the debut album released by hip hop duo, Rob Base and DJ E-Z Rock. It was released in 1988 for Profile Records and featured production from DJ E-Z Rock, Rob Base, Donald "O" Bowden and Thomas Dean. The singles that were released were "Joy and Pain", "Get on the Dance Floor" and the...
|
31 | 4 |
Recording Industry Association of America The Recording Industry Association of America is a trade organization that represents the recording industry distributors in the United States... : Platinum |
| 1989 | The Incredible Base The Incredible Base The Incredible Base is the second album by Rob Base. It was released in 1989 by Profile Records and featured production from Rob Base and William Hamilton... |
50 | 20 |
|
| 1994 | Break of Dawn Break of Dawn (Rob Base and DJ E-Z Rock album) Break of Dawn is the third and final album released by Rob Base and DJ E-Z Rock. It was released on September 13, 1994 for Rob Base's label, Funky Base Records and featured production by DJ E-Z Rock, Rob Base, Al Dellentash, Dave Kowolski, Kyle Robinson and Jeff Dovner... |
— | — | |
| "—" denotes releases that did not chart | ||||
Singles
| Year | Single | Peak chart positions | Certifications Music recording sales certification Music recording sales certification is a system of certifying that a music recording has shipped or sold a certain number of copies, where the threshold quantity varies by type and by nation or territory .Almost all countries follow variations of the RIAA certification categories,... (sales threshold) |
Album | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US Billboard Hot 100 The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday... |
US Dance | US Rap | US R&B Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs, is a chart released weekly by Billboard in the United States.The chart, initiated in 1942, is used to track the success of popular music songs in urban, or primarily African American, venues. Dominated over the years at various times by jazz, rhythm and blues, doo-wop, soul,... |
||||
| 1988 | "It Takes Two It Takes Two (Rob Base & DJ E-Z Rock song) "It Takes Two" is a 1988 hip hop song by Rob Base and DJ E-Z Rock and produced by Teddy Riley that was later certified platinum. The song samples heavily from Lyn Collins' 1972 song "Think ", using multiple drum breaks, the well known "Woo! Yeah!" sample, as well as the lyric sung by Collins which... " |
36 | 3 | — | 17 |
|
It Takes Two |
| "Get on the Dance Floor Get on the Dance Floor "Get on the Dance Floor" is a 1988 hip-hop single by Rob Base and DJ E-Z Rock. The single was their follow up to their highly successful recording, "It Takes Two". On the dance chart, "Get on the Dance Floor" was more successful than it predecessor, hitting number one for two weeks in January 1989... " |
— | 1 | 6 | — | |||
| "Joy and Pain" | 58 | 9 | 5 | 11 | |||
| 1989 | "Turn It Out (Go Base)" | — | — | — | — | ||
| "—" denotes releases that did not chart | |||||||