“No Cap” has no connection with the cap we wear. (See more and the origin…)

 “No Cap,” borrowed from Western hip-hop culture, means “I’m being honest,” “no lie” or “for real.” The phrase is popular in social media circles, and often used to emphasize honesty in conversations.

In contemporary use, “capping” refers to the act of lying or making false statements. The term “cap” is used to denote a lie, while “no cap” signifies truthfulness. 

The origins of “capping” trace back to African American Vernacular English (AAVE), where it was used to describe boasting or exaggerating. Over time, the term evolved to specifically mean lying. This expression gained traction in the early 2010s, popularized by Atlanta-based hip-hop artists like Young Thug and Future. Their music resonated globally, and Nigerian youth, ever attuned to global trends, embraced “no cap.”

“No cap” has been integrated into Nigerian Pidgin. For instance, “You dey cap” (You are lying).