Opp (often used in its plural form, “opps“) is slang shorthand for “opposition,” referring to a rival, enemy, or someone considered a threat, particularly within street, gang, and drill music culture. Separately, “O.P.P.” also refers to a well-known 1991 hip-hop song by Naughty by Nature, where the letters stand for something completely different and unrelated.
Because both usages circulate widely, context makes a real difference in understanding which “opp” someone means. This guide covers where the slang term came from, how the older song’s acronym works, and how people use each version today.
What It Means
In its most common current slang sense, opp (short for “opposition“) describes a rival, enemy, or someone from an opposing group, gang, or crew. The term shows up constantly in drill music, UK and US street slang, and social media, generally describing someone viewed with hostility or distrust.
In its unrelated, older sense, O.P.P. refers specifically to the title and acronym of Naughty by Nature’s 1991 hit song. The song itself popularized “O.P.P.” as an acronym standing for “Other People’s Property,” used within the song as a euphemistic way of referencing infidelity or being romantically involved with someone already in a relationship.
Though both terms share similar letters, they developed independently, and modern use of “opp” or “opps” as slang for rivals has almost entirely eclipsed the older song reference in everyday conversation, particularly among younger audiences.
Origin & History
The slang term “opp” grew directly out of “opposition,” used informally for decades within gang culture and street vernacular to describe rival individuals or groups. The shortened form gained major visibility and wider mainstream recognition through UK drill music starting in the 2010s, where lyrics frequently reference “opps” as rivals, sometimes tied to real ongoing conflicts between groups.
As UK drill influenced American drill and broader hip-hop culture throughout the 2010s and into the 2020s, the term “opps” spread widely beyond its original regional and cultural context, becoming recognized internet and youth slang even among people with no direct connection to gang culture, often used more loosely to describe any rival, hater, or disliked person.
The separate O.P.P. reference traces back specifically to Naughty by Nature’s 1991 single, itself inspired by an earlier song’s similar wordplay. The track became a major commercial hit and cultural touchstone of early 1990s hip-hop, cementing “O.P.P.” as widely recognized shorthand tied specifically to that era and that specific song’s theme.
Different Contexts and Meanings
In drill and street slang. This is the term’s dominant modern meaning: “opps” or “opps” refers to rivals, enemies, or opposing groups, frequently appearing in song lyrics, social media captions, and casual conversation among younger audiences.
In casual, non-gang-related slang. Beyond its more serious original context, some people now use “opp” loosely and often jokingly to describe anyone mildly disliked or seen as a rival in a low-stakes, everyday sense, such as a sports rival or someone competing for the same job.
In the 1991 song “O.P.P.” Here, the acronym stands for something entirely different, tied specifically to that song’s lyrics and theme, unrelated to the modern “opposition” slang meaning.
In gaming and online communities. “Opp” sometimes appears in gaming contexts to describe an opposing player or team, borrowing the general “rival” concept without necessarily connecting to its street-culture origins.
As a broader youth culture reference. The term has become common enough in internet and youth slang that many people use “opp” without any direct connection to its more serious original context, similar to how other slang terms drift from specific subcultures into general use.
Examples
- “The drill track name-dropped several opps in the lyrics.”
- “He joked that his coworker was his ‘work opp’ after losing out on the promotion.”
- “The rivalry between the two schools turned everyone into each other’s opps for the game.”
- “Naughty by Nature’s ‘O.P.P.’ remains a defining song of early ’90s hip-hop.”
- “She used ‘opp‘ jokingly to describe her sister, who always beat her at board games.”
- “The lyrics referenced watching out for opps in the neighborhood.”
- “That whole squad considers us their opps, apparently.”
- “The song’s acronym became one of the most recognizable hooks of the decade.”
- “He didn’t take it seriously, just some friendly opp talk between old teammates.”
- “The chorus repeated the acronym so often it became instantly memorable.”
How to Use It (Grammar and Context)
Opp functions as a noun, most often used in its plural form, “opps,” referring to a group of rivals or enemies collectively: “watch out for opps,” “he’s not an opp, he’s just competitive.” The singular form (“an opp”) also appears, referring to one specific rival individual.
O.P.P., referring specifically to the song, functions as a proper noun/title, always capitalized with periods between the letters, distinguishing it visually from the lowercase, more casual slang term “opp.”
Common Mistakes
Assuming “opp” and “O.P.P.” mean the same thing. Despite similar spelling, the modern slang term (opposition/rival) and the 1991 song’s acronym (unrelated to opposition) developed completely independently and mean entirely different things.
Taking every casual use of “opp” as serious or threatening. While the term originated in genuinely high-stakes street and gang contexts, much of its current casual, joking use among younger audiences carries no real hostility or danger behind it.
Missing the term’s origin in specific subcultures. Some people use “opps” without recognizing the term’s roots in serious street and gang culture contexts, where the word can carry real weight and real consequences.
Confusing the acronym’s meaning in the 1991 song. Listeners sometimes misremember or guess incorrectly at what the letters in “O.P.P.” originally stood for, since the song famously plays coy about spelling it out directly.
Similar Words
| Word/Phrase | Meaning | Difference from Opp |
| Rival | Someone competing against another person or group | Rival is a broader, more neutral term; “opp” carries specific cultural roots in street and drill slang |
| Enemy | Someone actively hostile toward another person | Very close in meaning to opp’s serious sense, though “enemy” applies more broadly outside specific slang contexts |
| Beef | Slang for an ongoing conflict or feud between people | Beef describes the conflict itself; “opp” describes the person on the other side of that conflict |
| Hater | Someone who expresses strong dislike or criticism, often without real justification | Hater implies criticism or negativity; opp more specifically implies rivalry or opposition, sometimes more serious |
Opposite Words
| Word/Phrase | Meaning | Why It’s an Opposite |
| Ally | Someone who supports or cooperates with another person or group | Directly opposes the rivalry and hostility implied by “opp“ |
| Squad/crew | One’s own close group of friends or associates | Represents the “in-group,” contrasting with opps as the outside, rival group |
| Friend | Someone with a positive, supportive relationship | The clearest personal opposite of being someone’s opp |
Pronunciation
Opp is pronounced OP, rhyming with “cop” and “top.” O.P.P. is pronounced by saying each letter individually: O-P-P.
Quick Facts
| Fact | Detail |
| Modern slang meaning | Short for “opposition” a rival or enemy |
| Popularized by | UK drill music, spreading through the 2010s–2020s |
| Unrelated song reference | Naughty by Nature’s 1991 hit “O.P.P.” |
| Typical plural form | “Opps,” referring to rivals collectively |
| Modern casual use | Sometimes used jokingly for low-stakes rivalries |
| Key distinction | The slang term and the song’s acronym are unrelated |
Key Takeaways
- Opp is modern slang short for “opposition,” referring to a rival or enemy, especially common in drill music culture.
- The term gained wide visibility through UK drill music starting in the 2010s before spreading more broadly.
- O.P.P. refers separately to Naughty by Nature’s 1991 song, with an entirely unrelated acronym meaning.
- Casual modern use of “opp” often carries much lower stakes than its original street-culture context.
- Context makes clear which meaning applies, since the two terms developed completely independently.
FAQs
What does “opp” mean in slang?
“Opp” is short for “opposition” or “opponent,” meaning someone viewed as an enemy, rival, or adversary.
What does “opp” mean in a rap song?
In rap, “opp” usually refers to an enemy, rival, or someone associated with a competing group.
What does “Ops” mean in slang?
“Ops” is the plural of “opp” and generally means enemies, rivals, or opposing people.
What does a opp mean on TikTok?
On TikTok, “an opp” usually means someone considered an enemy, rival, or person you have conflict with.
What does “opp” mean in Gen Z slang?
In Gen Z slang, “opp” commonly refers to an enemy, rival, or someone who is against you.
How do you say “opp”?
“Opp” is pronounced like the word “op” in “opportunity,” with a short o sound.
What does “opp” mean in the hood?
In street or neighborhood slang, “opp” commonly means an enemy, rival, or someone from an opposing group.
What does “opp” mean on Reddit?
On Reddit, “opp” generally has the same slang meaning: an opponent, rival, enemy, or someone you disagree or have conflict with.
What does “you down with opp yeah you know me” mean?
This refers to the famous lyric “You down with O.P.P.?” where O.P.P. is a wordplay referring to sexual relationships and “other people’s” partners.
What do black people mean by OPS?
“Ops” is slang used by some Black communities and in hip-hop and street culture for enemies, rivals, or opposing people. It is not used by all Black people.
What is OPS in Gen Z slang?
In Gen Z slang, “ops” generally means enemies, rivals, or people considered to be against someone.
What is OPS in the hood?
In this context, “ops” usually refers to enemies, rivals, or people associated with an opposing group.
What does “she’s my opp” mean?
“She’s my opp” means “she’s my enemy or rival” or that the speaker considers her to be someone who is against them.
Conclusion
The opp meaning ultimately splits into two stories that share almost nothing beyond a coincidental resemblance in spelling. One traces through decades of street vernacular into modern drill music, describing real rivalries with real stakes attached. The other belongs entirely to a specific, beloved song from 1991, its acronym locked to that one cultural moment rather than any broader ongoing usage.
That the two have started to blur together in casual conversation says less about any real connection between them and more about how quickly slang spreads and gets reused once it enters mainstream youth culture. A term with serious roots in specific communities can end up applied jokingly to something as low-stakes as losing a board game, stripped of the weight it originally carried.
If you’re hearing “opps” in a drill track or humming along to a decades-old hip-hop classic, knowing the difference between these two unrelated meanings means you’ll never mix up a genuine rivalry reference with a nostalgic throwback to one of the ‘90s‘ most recognizable song hooks.
I am Olivia Brooks an American editor and content researcher dedicated to creating clear, accurate content. At writemora.com, I help readers to understand words, phrases, and modern language with confidence.
