Young Noble, a member of the hip-hop group Outlawz and frequent Tupac Shakur collaborator, has died at the age of 47, PEOPLE can confirm. TMZ reported that the rapper, born Rufus Lee Cooper III, died by suicide in Atlanta on July 4.

I got some of the worst and unexpected news imaginable. My brother and partner for over 30 years took his life this morning," he wrote.

Young Noble, a member of Tupac Shakur ’s rap group the Outlawz, has died. He was 47. E.D.I. Mean, a fellow Outlawz member, confirmed his death on Instagram and said he reportedly died by suicide.