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 Noble, the rapper who was part of Tupac Shakur ‘s hip-hop group Outlawz, has died. He was 47. The rapper (born Rufus Lee Cooper III) reportedly died by suicide, from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot on Friday morning in Atlanta, TMZ reported.

Young Noble, a member of the hip-hop group Outlawz and frequent Tupac Shakur collaborator, has died. He was 47. A representative for the rapper confirmed his death to PEOPLE. TMZ reported that Noble, born Rufus Lee Cooper III, died by suicide in Atlanta on Friday, July 4.