‘WORST NEWS IMAGINABLE’

Rapper Who Collaborated With 2Pac Dies at 47

Young Noble died in Atlanta in an apparent suicide.

West Coast rapper Young Noble, part of Tupac Shakur’s group Outlawz, has died at 47. Born Rufus Lee Cooper III, the hip-hop artist was personally selected by Shakur to join his ’90s rap crew just months before he was shot dead in Las Vegas in 1996. Young collaborated with the legendary California rapper on his final album, The Don Killuminati: The 7 Day Theory and can be heard on the mega-hit, “Hail Mary.” It has been reported that Noble died by suicide. “Today I got some of the worst and unexpected news imaginable,” fellow Outlawz member E.D.I. Mean shared on Instagram in response. “Mental illness is a real battle being fought by so many. CHECK IN ON YOUR FOLKS!,” he continued. Noble was born and raised in Los Angeles County and continued working with Outlawz after Shakur’s death. He released five solo albums, including 2024’s The Last Outlaw, and was thought to be in good health after playing basketball with friends just days prior to his passing. “Life is shorter than we think,” Noble wrote in an Instagram post in March, “Don’t take TODAY for granted good people.”

If you or a loved one are struggling with suicidal thoughts, please reach out to the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline by dialing or texting 988.