Based on usage and spelling in my hometown of NYC, it’s always been RAP, as shown in the second example (presuming journalists of yesteryear knew how to spell).
The second example doesn’t give an abbreviation as the origin of the link to rap sheet, is what I was saying; records, arrests, and prosecutions to mean RAP instead of rap sounds like a backronym.
I don’t see anywhere on there that gives the etymology as an abbreviation? Etymonline gives the following:
Thanks for the link.
Based on usage and spelling in my hometown of NYC, it’s always been RAP, as shown in the second example (presuming journalists of yesteryear knew how to spell).
The second example doesn’t give an abbreviation as the origin of the link to rap sheet, is what I was saying; records, arrests, and prosecutions to mean RAP instead of rap sounds like a backronym.