Young Noble, a member of the rap group Outlawz and frequent collaborator with Tupac Shakur, 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 a.m. on Independence Day after someone reported seeing a man lying dead in a swimming 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.
Fellow Outlawz member E.D.I. Mean confirmed Cooper’s death on Instagram Friday, writing that his brother and partner for over 30 years took his life that morning. E.D.I. Mean indicated that mental illness is a real battle being fought by so many people and urged others to check on their loved ones.
Cooper’s wife told police officers she last spoke with him around 2 a.m. on July 4, when he told her he was going to drive around to clear his head. She reported that he never returned home and her calls went to voicemail. She noted that Cooper had been battling significant depression and mounting financial hardships, and she had been actively trying to get him help. Cooper’s daughters also confirmed to authorities that their father was experiencing depression and financial struggles.
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 and began his music career. He later returned to California, where he connected with Tupac Shakur and joined the group in 1996, the same year Shakur was killed.
Cooper became the last official member personally selected by Shakur before the rapper’s death. He made his debut on Shakur’s posthumous album “The Don Killuminati: The 7 Day Theory,” which was released in 1996 and debuted at number one on the Billboard 200. Cooper appeared on four tracks from the album, including “Hail Mary,” “Bomb First (My Second Reply),” “Life of an Outlaw,” and “Just Like Daddy.”
The Outlawz formed as Outlaw Immortalz in 1995 and signed to Death Row Records in 1997. Following Shakur’s death, the group continued to release music, including the platinum-certified collaboration “Still I Rise” with Shakur in 1999. Cooper appeared on numerous tracks from this album, including “Still I Rise,” “Secretz of War,” “Baby Don’t Cry (Keep Ya Head Up II),” and “The Good Die Young.”
In 2000, the Outlawz released their debut solo album “Ride wit Us or Collide wit Us” on their own label, Outlaw Recordz. Cooper launched his solo career with “Noble Justice” in 2002, followed by “Son of God” in 2012, “Powerful” in 2016, “3rd Eye View” in 2019, and “Outlaw University” in 2023. He also released numerous collaborative albums with artists including Layzie Bone from Bone Thugs-n-Harmony, Krayzie Bone, and Stic.man from Dead Prez.
Cooper faced significant health challenges in recent years. In May 2021, he suffered a serious heart attack, which he shared with fans on Instagram. He indicated his plan to put everything in his life on hold while recovering and urged others to take their health seriously, warning that unhealthy living and stress catch up sooner than expected.
Cooper’s death marks the fifth member of the Outlawz, including Tupac, to pass away. Yaki Kadafi was found dead of a gunshot wound in Orange, New Jersey, in 1996 at age 19, just two months after Shakur’s death. Hussein Fatal died in a car accident outside Atlanta in 2015 at age 42. Mussolini, also known as Big Syke, died in 2016 at age 48.
Cooper’s final Instagram post on June 22 shared an encouraging message about not giving up, stating that “God is going to send blessings, solutions, healing, love and positive change your way.” The post urged readers to hold on, be strong, and not give up, indicating they were next in line for their miracle.
Following news of Cooper’s death, several artists and collaborators paid tribute on social media. Snoop Dogg, who was on Death Row Records with Shakur, acknowledged that mental health is real. Producer Rick Rock, who worked on Shakur’s “All Eyez on Me,” shared his condolences and urged people to check on their loved ones. Layzie Bone described mental health as a scary thing while offering condolences to Cooper’s family.
Cooper’s family has established a GoFundMe account to cover expenses related to his death. He is survived by his wife and children, including a child with autism who requires constant supervision. At the time of his death, Cooper was working as an advocate in the fight against diabetes.
