Young Noble, a member of Tupac Shakur’s rap group the Outlawz, died by suicide on July 4, 2025, in Atlanta, Georgia. The rapper, whose real name was Rufus Lee Cooper III, was 47 years old.
According to police records obtained by TMZ, Gwinnett County officers responded to a 911 call at 9:00 AM on Independence Day after someone reported seeing a man lying dead in a pool at a country club in Snellville, a suburb of Atlanta. Police discovered Cooper at the bottom of the pool wearing tan cargo shorts and a black T-shirt with what appeared to be a gunshot wound to the right side of his head. A spent shell casing and a small black Beretta Tomcat .32 pistol were found nearby.
Cooper’s wife told officers she last spoke with him around 2:00 AM when he indicated he was going to drive around to clear his head. When he failed to return and her calls went to voicemail, she became concerned. She later found his parked car and alerted authorities.
Fellow Outlawz member E.D.I. Mean confirmed Cooper’s death on Instagram, stating that his brother and partner for over 30 years had taken his life. “Mental illness is a real battle being fought by so many,” Mean emphasized in his post, urging people to check on their loved ones.
Cooper’s wife informed police that he had been battling significant depression and that she had been actively trying to get him help. She noted that he used to work in the music industry but circumstances had deteriorated. Cooper’s daughters also confirmed their father was experiencing depression and facing financial hardship.
Born on March 21, 1978, in Sierra Madre, California, Cooper moved to New Jersey when he was eight years old. There, he met future Outlawz members Hussein Fatal and Yaki Kadafi. He later returned to California, where he connected with Tupac Shakur and joined the Outlawz in 1996, becoming the last member personally selected by Shakur before the legendary rapper’s death.
Cooper made his debut on Shakur’s posthumous album “The Don Killuminati: The 7 Day Theory,” appearing on four tracks including “Hail Mary,” “Bomb First (My Second Reply),” “Life of an Outlaw,” and “Just Like Daddy.” The album debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 following Shakur’s death in September 1996.
Throughout his career, Cooper released multiple solo albums under the Outlawz Records label. His debut solo effort, “Noble Justice,” was released in 2002, followed by “Son of God” in 2012, “Powerful” in 2016, “3rd Eye View” in 2019, and “Outlaw University” in 2023. He also collaborated on numerous projects with artists, including Layzie Bone, Krayzie Bone, and Dead Prez’s Stic.Man.
The Outlawz continued recording after Shakur’s death, releasing the platinum-certified collaboration “Still I Rise” with the late rapper in 1999. The group formed their own label and released their debut album “Ride wit Us or Collide wit Us” in 2000.
Cooper’s death marks the fifth Outlawz member to pass away. The group has faced significant losses over the years, including Shakur in 1996, Yaki Kadafi in 1996, Hussein Fatal in 2015, and Mussolini in 2016. Cooper had previously survived a serious heart attack in May 2021, after which he expressed gratitude for a second chance and urged others to take their health seriously.
In his final Instagram post on June 22, Cooper shared a message of encouragement, stating that readers were not seeing it by accident and that God would send blessings, solutions, healing, love, and positive change their way. He urged people to hold on, be strong, and not give up.
Cooper also appeared as himself in the 2017 biographical drama “All Eyez on Me,” named after Shakur’s fourth studio album. He had been working as an advocate in the fight against diabetes up until his death.
The hip-hop community responded to Cooper’s death with an outpouring of support. Snoop Dogg, who was on Death Row Records with Shakur, acknowledged the reality of mental health struggles. Other artists, including E-40, Xzibit, Krayzie Bone, and Trae Tha Truth, also offered condolences and emphasized the importance of checking on loved ones.
Cooper’s family has established a GoFundMe account to cover expenses. The death highlights ongoing concerns about mental health issues and suicide rates within the music industry and broader community.
