The IRS requires a Qualified Opportunity Fund be a "corporation of partnership." 

They are state structures.An LLC can be taxed as a partnership, a C Corp, an S Corp or totally disregarded.Most LLC structured for buy and hold real estate are usually either taxed as partnership or disregarded entity.

If you think the LLC partnership will help you get your share think twice. 

Filing as S and C Corp or partnership will work the best because you’ll have move the filing for the properties away from your scheduled E and off to a corporate or partnership return.

Discuss what a partnership would look like and where you will benefit the partnership, outside of cash contributions.

I have no idea if this plausible but the goal here for myself is to cash out the equity in my rental while bringing on a partner 50/50. I'm not interested in getting financing for the equity in the rental, but rather ...

Open to partnership, etc

I am still new to real estate investing but have been talking with few people about partnering up. Was wondering about any good or bad stories people may have on this topic

Since you are partnering I would highly recommend sitting down with your partners and talking though all the outcomes that could happen to the partnership.  

Consider buying a partnership in a new multifamily property with a proven development team.