Rob Base & DJ E-Z Rock

Rob Base, born Robert Ginyard was born and raised in Harlem and DJ E-Z Rock was born Rodney “Skip” Bryce. They met in 1977 in the fifth grade, in the same class in a Harlem Public School. Base had a mic, and E-Z Rock supplied the turntables and the duo released their first single, “DJ Interview,” from their debut album It Takes Two in 1986 after they signed to Profile Records.

Their 1988 single of the same name from the album, It Takes Two, became their most successful song. It peaked at no. 17 on the Billboard R&B Chart, no. 36 on the Billboard Hot 100, and no. 24 in the United Kingdom. The single sold seven million records.

Their follow up single “Get on the Dance Floor,” reached no. 1 on the Billboard Dance-Disco Chart. In 1989 the duo had two more hits from their album, It Takes Two. The single “It Takes Two” was rereleased and peaked at no. 3 on the Dance chart and no. 49 in the UK. “Joy and Pain reached no. 9 Dance, no. 11 R&B, and no. 58 on the Billboard Hot 100. It also reached no. 47 on the UK Chart. Later that year the album The Incredible Base was released and sold more than 500,000 copies.

Rob Base and DJ E-Z Rock broke up in 1989 to pursue solo careers. They did, however, remain friends. During the break, DJ E-Z Rock’s debut solo album Turn It Out (Go Base) (1989) was released. The duo reunited on the 1994 album Break of Dawn.

Continue to Rest In Peace DJ E-Z Rock (27th April 2014).