This Throwback Thursday shines a spotlight on Rob Base & DJ E-Z Rock and their timeless 1988 anthem “It Takes Two,” a song widely regarded as one of the greatest hip-hop singles ever recorded. Released through Profile Records, the track became a top-40 hit and earned platinum certification from the RIAA, helping push hip-hop further into mainstream radio, dance clubs, and pop culture. Built around the legendary “Think” break from Lyn Collins’ 1972 classic “Think (About It),” the song’s explosive energy and unforgettable hook (sung by in-house Profile Records singer Rhonda Parris) made it an instant party staple that continues to resonate across generations.

Music critics and fans alike have long celebrated the record’s influence and staying power. AllMusic critic Stephen Thomas Erlewine famously noted that many consider “It Takes Two” the greatest hip-hop single ever made, while Spin ranked it No. 1 on its 1989 list of the “100 Greatest Singles of All Time.” Decades later, Rolling Stone placed the song at No. 116 on its “500 Greatest Songs of All Time” list in 2021. The track’s influence has stretched far beyond hip-hop, inspiring samples and interpolations from artists like Black Eyed Peas and the dance-pop trio Seduction.

The celebration of the classic hit comes with sadness this year following the death of Rob Base, who died Friday, May 22, after a private battle with cancer. He was 59. Alongside DJ E-Z Rock, Base helped create one of the most recognizable and influential songs in hip-hop history, a record whose booming beats, infectious chants, and undeniable groove still ignite dance floors nearly four decades later. Though DJ E-Z Rock passed away in 2014, the duo’s legacy lives on every time “It Takes Two” blasts through speakers and reminds listeners why the golden era of hip-hop remains unmatched.