It Takes Two (Rob Base & DJ E-Z Rock song)

Composition and background

The song was produced by Rob Base, DJ E-Z Rock, and William Hamilton and built around the Think break sample and other elements from Lyn Collins' 1972 song "Think (About It)." Rhonda Parris was brought in by Profile Records to sing the hook. The song was sampled in November 1989 by the female dance-pop trio Seduction in their hit song "Two to Make It Right" (lyrics only) as well as by the Black Eyed Peas in their 2009 hit "Rock That Body."

Critical reception

Simon Reynolds from Melody Maker wrote, "The Rob Base/E.Z. Rock track is another exercise in attrition through overbearing sensual soul power. They take a shriek of JB at his most histrionic, and turn what is on the original record a singular peak of ecstasy into a jackknifing rhythmic copula that just goes on and on and on, like a locked groove. Climax after climax after climax. The effect is akin to hyperventilation."

Charts

Certifications

"It Takes Scoop"

• 2:50 (radio edit)
• AV8
• Giotto Bini
• Andrea Rizzo In 2000, DJ Kool used "It Takes Two" as a basis for his song of the same name, featuring Fatman Scoop. His version charted at number 12 on the US Billboard Hot Rap Singles chart that July. Fatman Scoop later recorded his own version of DJ Kool's take, retitling it "It Takes Scoop", which features the Crooklyn Clan. It was released as the follow-up to "Be Faithful", which topped the UK singles chart in October 2003 and charted worldwide. Fatman Scoop wrote the track with Giotto Bini and Andrea Rizzo, and it was produced by the Crooklyn Clan.

Along with the original "Think (About It)" sample, "It Takes Scoop" contains elements from "Treat 'Em Right" and "Caught Up" by Chubb Rock and "White Lines (Don't Don't Do It)" by Melle Mel. Released as a single on February 9, 2004, the song reached number nine on the UK singles chart and became a top-40 hit in Australia, Ireland, Italy, and Switzerland.

Track listings

US CD single

1. "It Takes Two" (radio edit)
2. "It Takes Two" (extended mix)
3. "It Takes Two" (original live mix)
4. "Area Code"
5. "Bonus Beats"

US 12-inch single :A. "It Takes Two" (Crooklyn Clan mix) :B. "It Takes Two" (Crooklyn Clan edit)

UK and Australian CD single

1. "It Takes Scoop" (album version) – 4:19
2. "It Takes Scoop" (radio edit) – 2:50
3. "It Takes Scoop" (video CD-ROM)

UK 12-inch single and European CD single :A. "It Takes Scoop" (radio edit) – 2:50 :B. "It Takes Scoop" (album version) – 4:19

Charts

Weekly charts

"It Takes Two"

"It Takes Scoop"

Year-end charts

Release history

In popular culture

• The song was used in the films Love & Basketball (2000), Hey Arnold! The Movie (2002), The Proposal (2009), Iron Man 2 (2010), Sisters (2015), The Disaster Artist (2017), Bumblebee (2018), Spies in Disguise (2019), and The Venture Bros.: Radiant Is the Blood of the Baboon Heart (2023). The Think break drum break was also used in the opening sequence of the unlicensed NES multicart video game compilation Action 52 (1992). The song was also featured on one of the radio stations in the action-adventure game Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas (2004).

References

References

1. Jason Newman. (April 27, 2014). "DJ E-Z Rock of 'It Takes Two' Fame Dead at 46 | Music News". Rolling Stone.
2. Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "Rob Base & DJ E-Z Rock: It Takes Two: Composed by Robert Ginyard: Song Review".
3. (April 1989). "100 Greatest Singles of All Time". [[Spin (magazine).
4. (September 15, 2021). "The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time".
5. "Best of '88: How Rob Base and D.J. E-Z Rock's 'It Takes Two' Became an Overnight Smash".
6. Lester, Paul. (July 11, 2012). "New band of the week Maxsta (No 1,306)". The Guardian.
7. Limbong, Andrew. (September 18, 2018). "The Voice Behind One Of Hip-Hop's Most Famous Hooks". [[NPR]].
8. Reynolds, Simon. (April 23, 1988). "Singles".
9. (2000). "It Takes Two". AV8 Records.
10. (2000). "It Takes Two". AV8 Records.
11. (2004). "It Takes Scoop". [[Def Jam Recordings]], AV8 Records.
12. (2000). "It Takes Scoop". Def Jam Recordings, AV8 Records.
13. (2000). "It Takes Scoop". Def Jam Recordings, AV8 Records.
14. "The Official UK Singles Chart 2004". [[UKChartsPlus]].
15. (February 7, 2004). "New Releases: Singles".
16. (April 5, 2004). "The ARIA Report: New Releases Singles – Week Commencing 5th April 2004". [[Australian Recording Industry Association.
17. (May 4, 2017). "Rob Base & DJ E-Z Rock: It Takes Two in Sisters Movie".