Green’s Dictionary of Slang

(US black) happening; thus what’s the haps (on the craps)? used as a greeting; no haps, no indeed; the haps, something good.

[1566		G. Gascoigne (trans.) Supposes I iii: Hard hap had I when I first began this unfortunate enterprise].
[1599		G. Peele Sir Clyomon and Sir Clamydes in Dyce (1861) 505: Ah, cruel hap of Fortune’s spite, which sign’d this luck to me!].
[1643		J. Howell Familiar Letters 20 Nov. (1737) I 285: Such was my hard hap, that I was committed to the Fleet].
[1742–4		(con. 1650s) R. North Lives of the Norths (1890) I 20: His Lordship had reason, and also the good hap, to be sensible of his condition].
[1810		W. Scott Lady of Lake 142: Can Ellen call that an evil hap which gives me an opportunity of again beholding her?].
1961		N.Y. Times Mag. 25 June 39: haps: an event, an occurrence.
1969		Jet 12 June 61: 21-year-old Al/C Edward Williams, who describes himself as ‘blue-eyed soul brother,’ writes [...] ‘It keeps me current in what’s the “haps” back in the world.
1970		A. Young Snakes (1971) 35: I like to [...] check out the haps when somebody that’s any good hit town and play there.
1993		Ice Cube ‘It Was a Good Day’ 🎵 Went to $hort Dog’s house, they was watchin Yo! MTV Raps / What’s the haps on the craps.
1995		L. Stavsky et al. A2Z 45/2: If you want to know the haps, check out rap music.
1997–2000		Da Bomb 🌐 28: The haps: The state of things. So man, what’s the haps?
1999		Eble Campus Sl. Nov. 13: what’s the haps on the craps – what is going on?
2004		J. San Filippo Sunspot Baby 22: Hey, Paco, what’s the haps?