Young Noble

Young Noble
Young Noble in 2006
Background information
Birth nameRufus Lee Cooper III[1]
Born(1978-03-21)March 21, 1978
Sierra Madre, California, U.S.
OriginMontclair, New Jersey, U.S.
DiedJuly 4, 2025(2025-07-04) (aged 47)
Atlanta, Georgia, U.S.
GenresHip hop
Years active1996–2025
Labels
Formerly ofOutlawz

Rufus Lee Cooper III (March 21, 1978 – July 4, 2025), also known by his stage name Young Noble, was an American rapper and member of Tupac Shakur's rap group Outlawz.[2]

Life and career

Noble was born in Sierra Madre, California. He grew up in nearby Pasadena, and at the age of eight, moved to New Jersey where he met future Outlaw members Hussein Fatal and Yaki Kadafi.[3] Around the age of 16, he moved back to California to live with his sister in Rancho Cucamonga.[4]

He made his debut on Tupac Shakur's album The Don Killuminati: The 7 Day Theory, on the songs "Bomb First (My Second Reply)", "Hail Mary", "Life of an Outlaw", and "Just Like Daddy".[3] Having joined the Outlawz in early 1996, Noble was the last member to be added to the group by Shakur himself, before the rapper's death in September 1996.[5] A platinum-selling[6] collaborative album, Still I Rise, between Shakur and Outlawz was released in 1999, with Noble contributing to several tracks.[7]

Noble's first solo album, Noble Justice, was released in 2002.[3] Over the years, he made other solo albums, was involved in several projects with other members of Outlawz, and also released collaborative albums with other artists such as the Bone Thugs-n-Harmony members Krayzie Bone and Layzie Bone.[7]

Songs recorded with 2Pac

Young Noble recorded at least ten songs with 2Pac while the latter was still alive. On songs "Just Like Daddy" and "As The World Turns" (Original) 2Pac referred to Young Noble as Marbles.

  1. "Tattoo Tearz" (Original) (Recorded on March 30 & June 17, 1996) (Remixed version appeared as Track # 13 on Still I Rise)
  2. "Life Of An Outlaw" (Recorded on July 2, 1996, appeared as Track # 6 on The Don Killuminati: The 7 Day Theory)
  3. "Hail Mary" (Recorded on July 8, 1996, appeared as Track # 2 on The Don Killuminati: The 7 Day Theory)
  4. "Lost Souls" (Recorded on July 8, 1996, appeared as Track # 12 (CD 2) on Gang Related – The Soundtrack)
  5. "Bomb First (My Second Reply)" (Recorded on July 12, 1996, appeared as Track # 1 on The Don Killuminati: The 7 Day Theory)
  6. "Just Like Daddy" (Recorded on August 12, 1996, appeared as Track # 7 on The Don Killuminati: The 7 Day Theory)
  7. "Runnin’ On E" (Original) (Recorded on 13 August, 1996) (Remixed version appeared as Track # 12 (CD 2) on Until the End of Time)
  8. "As The World Turns" (Original) (Recorded on August 22, 1996) (Remixed version appeared as Track # 5 on Still I Rise)
  9. "All Out" (Original) (Recorded on July 6 & 5 September, 1996) (Remixed version appeared as Track # 9 (CD 1) on Until the End of Time)
  10. "Hell 4 A Hustler" (Original) (Recorded on July 6 & 6 September, 1996) (Remixed version appeared as Track # 8 on Still I Rise)[8]

Performance with 2Pac and the Outlawz at the House of Blues

Young Noble performed with 2Pac and the other Outlawz on stage at the Los Angeles House of Blues on July 4, 1996 where he rapped his verse from "Tattoo Tearz" (Original) referring to a fight with the Wu-Tang Clan member GZA, and Hussein Fatal's verse from the diss track "Hit 'Em Up" because of Fatal's arrest right before the performance.[9] Young Noble died by suicide by gunshot exactly twenty-nine years after his first on-stage performance.

Death

Cooper died by suicide by gunshot in Atlanta, Georgia, on July 4, 2025, aged 47.[10][11]

Discography

Main article: Young Noble discography
Solo albums

Filmography

Year Title Role Notes
2002 Outlawz: Worldwide himself Documentary DVD
2002 Chorchyp: The Way of the Samurai himself Documentary
2013 Napoleon: Life of an Outlaw himself Documentary DVD
Bound by Blood – Motion picture debut
2017 All Eyez on Me himself Motion picture debut

References

  1. ^ "AIM AT DA POLICE". ASCAP. American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers. Retrieved April 29, 2023.
  2. ^ Birchmeier, Jason. "Biography: Outlawz". Allmusic. Retrieved 25 May 2010.
  3. ^ a b c d Horowitz, Steven J. (2025-07-05). "Young Noble, Tupac Collaborator and Member of Rap Group the Outlawz, Dies at 47". Variety. Retrieved 2025-07-05.
  4. ^ Cooper, Rufus, III (2024). Young Noble Tells All — Speaks On 2Pac, Nas, Snoop Dogg, Yaki Kadafi & Fatal Death & All Controversy (Interview). The Art of Dialogue (published 2024-12-24).
  5. ^ "Young Noble, Outlawz Rapper and Tupac Shakur Collaborator, Dies at 47". People.com. 2025-07-05. Retrieved 2025-07-06.
  6. ^ "Outlawz rapper Young Noble dead by apparent suicide at 47". Yahoo News. 2025-07-04. Retrieved 2025-07-06.
  7. ^ a b Kuperinsky, Amy (2025-07-05). "N.J. rapper Young Noble of Tupac group Outlawz ('Hail Mary') dies at 47". nj.com. Retrieved 2025-07-05.
  8. ^ https://2paclegacy.net/recording-date-of-tupacs-songs/#1996. {{cite web}}: External link in |website= (help); Missing or empty |title= (help); Missing or empty |url= (help)
  9. ^ E.D.I Mean TV (2025-07-04). Tupac Epic Performance, EDI's102 Fever, Young Noble Replaces Hussein Fatal - FULL VIDEO. Retrieved 2025-07-09 – via YouTube.
  10. ^ "Outlawz Member Young Noble Dead at 47". TMZ. 2025-07-04. Retrieved 2025-07-04.
  11. ^ Eustice, Kyle (2025-07-04). "Outlawz Member Young Noble Dead By Suicide At Age 47". AllHipHop. Retrieved 2025-07-04.
  12. ^ "iTunes - Music - 3rd Eye View by Young Noble". iTunes. Retrieved 2019-09-13.
  13. ^ Lucky Number 7. Spotify.
  14. ^ Positive Vibes Only. Spotify.
  15. ^ The Last Outlaw. Spotify.
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