Rob Base & DJ EZ Rock is a legendary hip hop duo from New York. The duo only released two albums but did a lot of touring. They released their first album back in 1988 and it was called It Takes Two. We look back on 1988, and we crown that as the original Golden Age of Hip Hop. Few hip-hop albums captured the energy of the late 1980s quite like their groundbreaking debut. The album helped bring hip-hop into the mainstream during a pivotal era for the genre. The album blended rap with dance and house music influences at a time when hip-hop was still fighting for mainstream acceptance. Commercially, It Takes Two was a major success. The album reached the Billboard charts and eventually earned platinum certification. Beyond its chart success, the album’s cultural impact remains enormous decades later.
It Takes Two is my featured Throwback Thursday track of the week. The title track has been sampled, remixed, and featured in movies, commercials, and sporting events for generations. Music critics and fans alike still consider it one of the greatest party records ever made, with Spin magazine once ranking the single among the greatest songs of all time. The legacy of the album became even more meaningful following the passing of Rob Base last week after a battle with cancer. DJ EZ Rock passed away back in 2014 due to his bout with diabetes. More than 35 years after its release, It Takes Two still sounds fresh, energetic, and timeless. The Iceman album, Mr. Smith from LL Cool J, and Run DMC Greatest Hits were some albums played this week. Check out the track listing for the It Takes Two album below.
It Takes Two Track Listing
- It Takes Two
- Joy and Pain
- Don’t Sleep on It
- Check This Out
- Crush
- Get on the Dance Floor
- Times Are Getting’ Ill
- Keep It Going Now
- Make It Hot
- Creativity
