Rufus Lee Cooper III, widely known as Young Noble from Tupac Shakur’s rap group Outlawz, has died at the age of 47.
His death was confirmed by fellow Outlawz member E.D.I. Mean, who revealed on Instagram that Noble died by suicide.
“Today I got some of the worst and most unexpected news imaginable. My brother and partner of over 30 years took his life this morning,” E.D.I. wrote. “Rest in Power, Rufus ‘Young Noble’ Cooper.”
He urged fans and the public to respect the family’s privacy during this difficult time and emphasized the seriousness of mental health struggles:
“Mental illness is a real battle being fought by so many. CHECK ON YOUR FOLKS!”
Tupac’s official Instagram account, managed by his estate, also shared a tribute in Noble’s memory.
Born in Sierra Madre, California, Young Noble joined the Outlawz in the mid-1990s after meeting Tupac and went on to contribute to several of the group’s iconic tracks.
