## What does it mean?
— "No cap" means to tell the truth or be serious. It is often used to emphasize honesty.
## Etymology (where it comes from)
— The phrase **"no cap"** likely comes from African American Vernacular English (AAVE).
— "Cap" means to lie, while "no" means not.
## Historical origin
— This phrase became popular in the early 2010s in the United States.
— It is often used in youth culture and social media.
## Earliest records
— The phrase appears in **music lyrics** and **online conversations**.
## Variants and usage by country
— Variants include:
- "No lie"
- "For real"
- "No joke"
## Related words
— Related terms include:
- **Truth**
- **Honesty**
- **Real** (as in genuine)
- **Legit** (short for legitimate)