In pop culture, props means to commend or compliment, so what word is props a contraction of (presuming it is a contraction)?
I knew a kid and we called him Mad Props because he would always have the Props meaning stage performance props during our circle meetings.
http://www.randomhouse.com/wotd/index.pperl?date=20010213 proper respect, amongst other things.... Just Google: "slang props"
It comes from Aretha Franklin's song "Respect", in which she demands her proper respect from her man when he gets home.