E.D.I. Mean won’t be celebrating the Fourth of July following the tragic news that his Outlawz brethren Young Noble has committed suicide.
The veteran rapper, who rose to notoriety as part of Tupac Shakur’s group, broke the news via Instagram on Friday (July 4), saying he was “at a loss for words.”
“Today I got some of the worst and unexpected news imaginable,” he wrote. “my brother and partner for over 30 years took his life this morning. 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. Mental illness is a real battle being fought by so many. CHECK ON UR FOLKS!”
Many in the Hip-Hop community expressed their shock in the comment section, including Xzibit, who wrote, “Just heard the news brother. I’m am processing this as well. I wish him peace and comfort. Condolences to you and all of the families involved. Tragedy.”
Snoop Dogg, Krayzie Bone, Layzie Bone, E-40, Suge Knight Jr. and KXNG Crooked also offered their condolences.
The Outlawz were founded by Tupac Shakur and Yaki Kadafi in 1995, initially emerging from Shakur’s earlier collaborations with groups like Dramacydal and Thug Life. The group, whose name stands for “Operating Under Thug Laws As Warriors,” first gained widespread recognition through their appearance on Shakur’s track “When We Ride” from his multi-platinum album All Eyez on Me, and became especially notable for their role on the infamous diss track “Hit ‘Em Up.”
Members adopted aliases inspired by controversial world leaders, with Shakur himself taking the name “Makaveli.” The original lineup included Kastro, E.D.I. Mean, Hussein Fatal, Napoleon, Yaki Kadafi, Young Noble and the sole female member, Storm.
After Shakur’s murder in 1996, the group faced significant turmoil, including the deaths of Kadafi and Hussein Fatal, but continued to release music, including the platinum-certified album Still I Rise in collaboration with Shakur.
Young Noble, who joined the group in 1996 as the last member, survived a serious heart attack in 2021. He wrote at the time, “Thank you to all my luved ones who been praying for me I had 1 of the worst days of my life yesterday I had a serious heart attack but God is too good & the amazing doctors brung me back an they getting me right.
“I plan to put everything in my life on hold while I recover an get my health all the way right…This will only make me stronger I’m grateful for a second chance an I beg y’all please please please take your health serious all the unhealthy living an stress catches up sooner than later!”
In December 2024, Young Noble sat down for his first interview in seven years in which he got emotional talking about both the murders of Tupac Shakur and The Notorious B.I.G.
“It was crazy,” he said. “Biggie dying affected us, too […] I was almost questioning like, ‘Damn man, maybe I should have stayed in school and figured something else out.’ Like, ‘I don’t know if I made the right decision getting in the car with [Hussein] Fatal and Yaki [Kadafi] that day. This doesn’t feel good. I left the hood to come to California. I was tired of death and all this b#######. Two of my friends just died back to back. It was horrible. Horrible for Hip-Hop.”
AllHipHop sends our condolences to Young Noble’s loved ones.
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