HomeTop HeadlinesPopular Hip-Hop Star Dead at 47

Popular Hip-Hop Star Dead at 47

Young Noble, a member of Tupac Shakur’s hip-hop group the Outlawz, died by suicide on July 4, 2025, at age 47 in Atlanta, Georgia. The rapper, whose real name was Rufus Lee Cooper III, was found dead at the bottom of a swimming pool at a country club in Snellville, a suburb of Atlanta, according to police records.

Gwinnett County officers responded to a 911 call at 9:00 AM on Independence Day after someone reported seeing a man lying dead in the pool. Police discovered Cooper’s body with what appeared to be a gunshot wound to the right side of his head. A spent shell casing was found approximately one foot away from the body, along with a small black Beretta Tomcat .32 pistol.

Fellow Outlawz member E.D.I. Mean confirmed Cooper’s death on Instagram, writing that his “brother and partner for over 30 years took his life this morning.” The post emphasized that mental illness is a real battle being fought by many and urged people to check on their loved ones.

Cooper’s wife told police she last spoke with him around 2:00 AM on July 4, when he informed her he was going to drive around to clear his head. She indicated he never returned home and her calls went to voicemail. The wife noted that Cooper had been battling significant depression and that she had been actively trying to get him help. She explained that Cooper typically watched their children, including one with autism who cannot be left alone, while she worked.

Cooper’s daughters confirmed to authorities that their father had been experiencing depression and facing financial hardship. The family has since established a GoFundMe account to cover expenses related to his death.

Born March 21, 1978, in Sierra Madre, California, Cooper moved to New Jersey as a child, where he met future Outlawz members Hussein Fatal and Yaki Kadafi. He later returned to California and connected with Shakur while the legendary rapper was working on his 1996 album “All Eyez on Me.”

Cooper joined the Outlawz in 1996 as the final 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,” appearing on notable tracks including “Hail Mary,” “Bomb First (My Second Reply),” “Life of an Outlaw,” and “Just Like Daddy.”

The Outlawz continued releasing music after Shakur’s murder in September 1996, including the platinum-certified collaboration “Still I Rise” with Shakur. The group formed their own label, Outlawz Records, and released their debut album “Ride Wit Us or Collide Wit Us” in 2000.

Cooper released four solo albums under the group’s label, beginning with “Noble Justice” in 2002, followed by “Son of God” in 2012, “Powerful” in 2016, and “3rd Eye View” in 2019. He also collaborated on numerous projects with artists including Layzie Bone from Bone Thugs-n-Harmony, Krayzie Bone, and Stic.man from Dead Prez.

In May 2021, Cooper suffered a serious heart attack that significantly impacted his health. He shared on social media that he planned to put everything in his life on hold while recovering, emphasizing the importance of taking health seriously and warning that unhealthy living and stress can catch up sooner than expected.

Cooper also appeared as himself in the 2017 biographical drama “All Eyez on Me,” which took its name from Shakur’s fourth studio album. Up until his death, he was working as an advocate in the fight against diabetes.

His final social media post on June 22 shared an inspirational message stating that readers were not seeing it by accident and that it was confirmation they would make it through their struggles. The message encouraged people to hold on and be strong, promising that blessings and positive change were coming.

Cooper’s death marks the fifth member of the Outlawz, including Shakur, to pass away. Yaki Kadafi died in 1996 at age 19 from a gunshot wound in Orange, New Jersey, just two months after Shakur’s death. Hussein Fatal died in a car accident outside Atlanta in 2015 at age 42, and Mussolini (Big Syke) died in 2016 at age 48.

The hip-hop community responded with an outpouring of support, with artists including Snoop Dogg, E-40, Xzibit, Krayzie Bone, and Treach offering condolences. DJ Premier expressed his speechlessness at the news, while Layzie Bone emphasized that mental health is a frightening issue.

The Outlawz group’s 1999 album “Still I Rise” notably covered themes including African-American poverty, teenage pregnancy, and tragically, suicide. The group’s work often reflected the struggles and challenges faced by their communities.

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