How 'It Takes Two' Defined The Golden Age Of Hip-Hop

Rob Base ever I thought “It Takes Two” was going to be a huge hit. He and DJ EZ Rock aimed to make a neighborhood party record, straight from the streets of Harlem, to get bodies moving at the local clubs and skating rinks.

But “It Takes Two” exploded into a worldwide smash hit, changing hip-hop forever. The music industry was shocked when this raw rap anthem landed in the US Top 40, with zero crossover or compromise. “It Takes Two” changed history, but it's also a dance floor smash that never fails to light up a wedding or party. On Rolling Stone's list of the 500 Greatest Songs, “It Takes Two” is ranked #116.

Rob Base makes it undeniable from the start, declaring, “I wanna rock right now!“It Takes Two” was strictly minimal, based on a James Brown sample from Lyn Collins' 1971 hit “Think (About It).” JB wrote, produced and released the song on his own label People Records. But Base turned it into one of hip-hop's most iconic breaks, hearing the moment Collins and Brown exchange “”oooh! Yes! ooooh!” he shouts.

“It Takes Two” first hit rap radio, becoming one of the definitive classics of the Golden Age of hip-hop, the beatbox soundtrack to the legendary summer of 1988. But to everyone's surprise, “It Takes Two ” he continued to travel. It was easily the hardest rap hit to break into the Top 40 at that point – it was surreal to hear it on pop radio, between Rick Astley and Belinda Carlisle. “It Takes Two” changed the way people thought about hip hop, at a time when it was still considered a fad. It also changed the way people thought about sampling, reviving James Brown for a new era.

In this week's episode The Rolling Stones 500 Greatest Songs hosts Rob Sheffield and Brittany Spanos discuss “It Takes Two,” how it changed pop history, and why it continues. They're joined by a special guest: Rob Base himself, as he tells the story of how the song came together. But like everyone else, Base was surprised when their street beats took the world by storm.

in 2004, Rolling rock released his list of the 500 greatest songs of all time. Drawn from a massive vote involving artists, industry figures and critics, the list has been a source of discussion, inspiration and controversy for two decades. It is one of the most popular, influential and controversial features the magazine has ever done.

So we set out to make it even bigger, better and fresher. In 2021, we completely overhauled our 500 song listwith a whole new batch of voters from across the musical map. Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Songs takes a closer look at the entries on our list. Produced in partnership with iHeart, Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Songs finds Brittany and Rob discussing a new song each week, delving into its history and impact with the help of a special guest — including RS colleagues, producers and the artists themselves. It's our celebration of the best songs we've ever made — and a breakdown of what makes them so great.

Watch the latest episode above, at iHeartor wherever you get your podcasts and look for new episodes every Wednesday.