DJ E-Z Rock of 'It Takes Two' fame dies at age 46

One of the producers behind one of the most culturally relevant hip-hop releases of the '80s passed away Sunday. DJ E-Z Rock, member of the group bearing his name and that of musical partner Rob Base, was found dead on Sunday. Details are scarce and no cause has been given.

E-Z Rock and Base were behind the classic track "It Takes Two" from 1988, a song that cemented their place in hip-hop and culture in general. The song's relative Billboard success-peaking at no. 3 on the Hot Dance/Club Songs chart- doesn't do enough to justify the song's relevance. The catchy number, featuring a sample of Lyn Collins' "Think (About It)," itself became a popular subject for sampling. Snoop Dogg and Gang Starr reused the song within the hip-hop world, while Girl Talk featured it in his mashups and even K-Pop act 2NE1. The track has made its way into soundtracks for Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas, 2009 film The Proposal and dozens of others.

E-Z Rock revealed in a 1991 interview that "It Takes Two" accelerated the pair's career drastically.

"At first, it was kind of weird because we only had one record," he said regarding the group's first hit 'Make It Hot.' "We would open up for people and get on for 15 minutes doing that one song. Then, when 'It Takes Two' came out, we started headlining."

Rock and Base are frequently cited among the influences behind the push toward R&B-inspired hip-hop music. Fellow New York City-based DJ's took to social media to pay tribute to Rock.

"R.I.P. to EZ Rock from Rob Base and EZ Rock. You will truly be missed," wrote Biz Markie.