The music world suffered a double blow with the deaths of DJ E-Z Rock and DJ Rashad over the weekend. The influential deejays changed the course of music over their decades-long spinning careers.
The news of Rock’s passing on Sunday (April 27) was confirmed by MC Rob Base in a since-deleted Facebook post. Base, who knew Rock since the fourth grade, has since replaced the post with a collage of E-Z Rock photos. He was 46 and a cause of death has not been released.
DJ E-Z Rock (Rodney Bryce) burst onto the scene with the 1988 body rocking “It Takes Two” dance floor anthem. Just as the infamous hook goes “It takes two to make a thing go right/It takes two to make it outta sight,” Rock handled the turntables while childhood friend MC Rob Base got busy rocking the microphone. The new-jack swing fueled song owes its production to Teddy Riley and a sample from the Godfather of Soul James BrownLyn Collins song “Think (About It).” Over the years, a handful of artists have looked to the certified-platinum song for inspiration. The Black Eyed Peas, LL Cool J, and Will Smith are among those who have sampled “It Takes Two.”
The duo released “Get on the Dance Floor” and “Joy and Pain,” but none have had the staying power of “It Takes Two” from their debut album. Rock and Base eventually split due to personal reasons, after their second album but came together again in 1994 for Break of Dawn. The two then went their separate ways again, but stayed in touch.
Chicago legend DJ Rashad‘s career was cut short Saturday (April 26), allegedly due to drug use. He was 45. DJ Rashad (Rashad Hanif Harden) was found unresponsive in his apartment by Chicago police. Evidence of drug use and paraphernalia were found close to Harden’s body and around his South Side apartment, according to Chicago Police Officer Ana Pacheco. An official cause of death will be released once a medical examiner’s toxicology report is complete. Rashad’s father told the Chicago Sun-Times his son had a prescription for Xanax.
Harden’s career spanned 15 years, producing a number of songs with frantic sped-up samples. He was the pioneer for the footwork and juke dance crazes, evolving from Chicago neighborhoods to dance clubs. Fans and critics began taking notice of DJ Rashad with the release of last year’s album Double Cup. His new EP We On 1, which was scheduled to be released today (April 28), was thought to be the album that would transform him into an international star.
DJ Rashad’s death is another blow to Chicago’s music scene this year, following House legend DJ Frankie Knuckles’ death last month at age 59.