Rapper Young Noble, a prominent member of Tupac Shakur’s legendary hip-hop group Outlawz, has died at the age of 47.
According to TMZ, the rapper, born Rufus Lee Cooper III, died by suicide on Friday, July 4, in Atlanta. A representative also confirmed his passing to PEOPLE.
The Atlanta Police Department has not issued an official statement at the time of this report.
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Tributes have continued to pour in from colleagues and friends. Music executive Damien “Big Percy” Roderick took to social media to express his sorrow, writing, “Damn @outlawznation @theoutlawzofficial REST EASY HOMIE @young_noble wish I could change our last call we had DAMN PRAYERS UP.”
Reacting to Roderick’s post, rapper Snoop Dogg shared his condolences on Instagram and highlighted the importance of mental health awareness. “DAMN Mental health is real,” he wrote, alongside Tupac and Outlawz’s song “The Good Die Young.”
E.D.I. Mean, Noble’s longtime friend and fellow Outlawz member, also posted a deeply emotional tribute.
“Today I got some of the worst and unexpected news imaginable,” he shared. “My brother and partner for over 30 years took his life this morning. Rest in Power Rufus Young Noble Cooper.”
Still grappling with the loss, he added, “I’m in no shape to talk about this right now,” and asked the public to respect the privacy of Noble’s family during this difficult time.
He closed his message with a somber reminder: “Mental illness is a real battle being fought by so many. CHECK ON UR FOLKS!”
Young Noble became the final addition to Outlawz in 1996 after being personally invited by Tupac shortly before the rapper’s death. He appeared on several tracks from The Don Killuminati: The 7 Day Theory, including the iconic “Hail Mary.”
He also carved out a solo career, with notable projects such as Noble Justice and Son of God, earning respect for his lyrical depth and loyalty to the legacy of Tupac and Outlawz.
