Young Noble, Tupac’s longtime collaborator and Outlawz member, dies by suicide at 47.
Young Noble, a longtime collaborator of Tupac Shakur and a member of the legendary rap group the Outlawz, has died at the age of 47.
The rapper, whose real name was Rufus Lee Cooper III, reportedly took his own life in Atlanta, according to fellow Outlawz member E.D.I. Mean, who shared the devastating news on Instagram.
“Today I got some of the worst and unexpected news imaginable,” E.D.I. wrote. “My brother and partner for over 30 years took his life this morning.
Rest in Power Rufus ‘Young Noble’ Cooper.
I obviously am in no shape to talk about this right now, so PLEASE give his family and I some time to process this. Mental illness is a real battle being fought by so many.”
Tupac’s official Instagram account, managed by his estate, also reposted the message.
Born in Sierra Madre, California, Cooper moved to New Jersey at age eight, where he met future Outlawz members Yaki Kadafi and Hussein Fatal.
The trio began recording together and eventually reconnected with Tupac after Cooper returned to California.
Young Noble made his debut on Tupac’s 1996 album The Don Killuminati: The 7 Day Theory, appearing on the tracks “Bomb First (My Second Reply),” “Just Like Daddy,” and the iconic “Hail Mary.”
Throughout his career, Young Noble helped carry forward Tupac’s legacy through music.
He released five solo albums, beginning with Noble Justice in 2002, and numerous collaborative projects with artists such as Layzie Bone, Krayzie Bone, and Dead Prez’s Stic.Man.
His final album, Outlaw University, was released in 2023.
Tributes poured in from across the hip-hop community.
Layzie Bone wrote, “RIP to my Thug Brother @young_noble… My condolences to his family, wife, kids, friends, and fans. Rest up eternal bro. This mental health is a scary thing.”
Young Noble’s death marks a tragic loss for fans of Tupac and the Outlawz, and serves as another painful reminder of the importance of mental health awareness, even among those who appear strong on the surface.
