Young Noble, a core member of the legendary hip-hop group Tha Outlawz, has died at the age of 47. E.D.I. Mean, his longtime friend and musical partner, confirmed the news on Friday, July 4th, via Instagram.
“Today, I got some of the worst and unexpected news imaginable. My brother and partner for over 30 years took his life this morning,” E.D.I. wrote. “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.”
E.D.I. also urged fans to take mental health seriously, adding, “CHECK ON YO UR FOLKS!”
TMZ reported that Noble, born Rufus Lee Cooper III, was found in Atlanta with a gunshot wound that appeared self-inflicted.
Noble joined Tha Outlawz in 1996 and was the last member added by Tupac Shakur before his death. He made his debut on Tupac’s posthumous album “The Don Killuminati: The 7 Day Theory,” appearing on tracks like “Hail Mary” and “Life of an Outlaw.”
In 2021, Noble survived a major heart attack and shared his journey to recovery. “God is too good,” he wrote at the time. “This will only make me stronger.”
Following the news, tributes poured in from fellow artists. Storm, Riskie Forever, Rick Rock, Trae Tha Truth, and Kxng Crooked all shared emotional messages, honoring Noble’s impact and legacy in hip-hop.
