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Kendrick Lamar's "Not Like Us" or Tupac's "Hit 'Em Up"? - NYT The Midi Clue
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The clue "Egg-cooking vessel" refers to a kitchen tool commonly used to cook eggs. A "pan," such as a frying pan or skillet, is the appropriate vessel for frying, scrambling, or preparing eggs in various ways. It directly matches the clue's context.
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"BOP" is a slang term used to describe a catchy, upbeat song with a strong rhythm that makes you want to move or sing along. It fits the clue perfectly as a colloquial expression for a song that's instantly engaging and memorable.
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SPACEJAM combines “jam” (a song) with “space,” linking the clue’s songs—“Life on Mars?” by David Bowie and “Rocket Man” by Elton John—both of which reference outer space.
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The answer is SHORTSTOP because Derek Jeter famously played as the shortstop for the New York Yankees throughout his baseball career. A shortstop is an infield position located between second and third base, tasked with fielding ground balls, catching throws, and covering bases.
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TIME is the solution because it is a globally recognized magazine that has been naming its "Person of the Year" annually since 1927. This tradition spotlights individuals or groups who have had the most impact—positive or negative—on world events that year, making TIME the definitive answer.
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The clue "Little piggy" refers to the nursery rhyme "This Little Piggy," where "piggy" is a playful term for a toe. Each "little piggy" represents a toe, as in "This little piggy went to market..." This wordplay links directly to the answer: TOE.
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DISJOINT combines “joint” (slang for a song) with “dis,” matching diss tracks like “Not Like Us” by Kendrick Lamar and “Hit ’Em Up” by Tupac Shakur.
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The answer "TAN" fits the clue "Light brown" because "tan" refers to a soft, light brown color, often associated with tanned skin or leather. The clue provides a direct description of the color, making "TAN" the straightforward and accurate solution.
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The prefix "ECO" relates to ecology and the environment. Often used in terms like "ecofriendly" or "ecology," it indicates concepts or practices that prioritize environmental sustainability, aligning perfectly with the clue "Environmentally friendly prefix."
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The answer "REVEL" fits because to "revel" means to celebrate or enjoy oneself in a lively and exuberant way, perfectly matching the clue "Celebrate exuberantly." Both the clue and answer share the same tone of joyful, lively festivity, making "REVEL" an apt solution.
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The phrase "Your mileage may ___" is a common expression meaning results or experiences may differ for different people. The word "VARY" fits as it means "to differ" or "to change," completing the phrase appropriately. The quotation marks indicate a commonly spoken phrase.
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The term "18-wheeler" refers to a large truck with 18 wheels, commonly a tractor-trailer truck. "Semi" is a shorthand for "semi-truck" or "semi-trailer," the common term for these trucks. Hence, SEMI is the correct answer.
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The phrase "SLEEPONIT" means to delay making a decision until after sleeping, allowing time to reflect. The clue uses "simmer overnight" as a metaphor for this reflective process, cleverly tying the idea of letting a decision rest ("simmer") with the literal act of sleeping overnight.
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COLDCUT pairs “cut” (a song) with “cold,” linking “Ice Ice Baby” by Vanilla Ice and “Milkshake” by Kelis, both associated with cold things.
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The word "Slake" means to satisfy or quench a thirst or desire, particularly for liquids or cravings. As "quench" refers to satisfying thirst, "slake" is a direct synonym, making it the correct solution for this straightforward clue.
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The clue "Hey! Over here!" enclosed in quotes signals a spoken or nonverbal expression. "PSST" is a quiet, attention-grabbing sound often used to discreetly call someone over or get their attention, fitting the conversational intent of the clue.
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The answer is APHID because ladybugs are natural predators of aphids, small sap-sucking insects that infest plants. Ladybugs feed on aphids as part of their diet, making them a commonly known prey for these beneficial beetles. This aligns directly with the clue's straightforward biological reference.
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The solution "NAOMI" refers to Naomi Campbell, a world-famous supermodel known for her influential career in fashion. The clue directly points to her last name, "Campbell," making "NAOMI" the correct first name to complete the answer. No wordplay or extra hints are involved.
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The clue "Oh yeah, wanna ___?" mimics casual, playful dialogue, inviting a response. "BET" fits as a common slang term used to accept a challenge or agree confidently, often in a competitive or joking tone. The question mark hints at this conversational and informal wordplay.
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The clue "Beverages with or without pulp, informally" refers to orange juices, which are typically available with or without pulp. The abbreviation "OJs" is a casual, informal way to refer to orange juices. Hence, the answer is "OJS".
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The answer is PATTI because Patti LaBelle is a renowned American singer and entertainer known for hits like "Lady Marmalade." The clue directly references her surname, "LaBelle," pointing to her first name, Patti, as the solution. This is a straightforward clue naming a famous individual.
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The clue "Reach the top of a roller coaster, say" uses a metaphor. "Crest" refers to the highest point of a wave, hill, or roller coaster. It matches the idea of reaching the peak, fitting both the physical and descriptive sense of the roller coaster's top.
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The Artemis II mission is NASA's current lunar exploration initiative, aiming to send astronauts around the MOON as part of its goal to return humans to the lunar surface. The clue directly relates to this mission's primary focus, making MOON the correct answer.
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The clue "Furry family member" points to an animal commonly kept at home as a member of the family. The word "furry" hints at animals with fur, and "family member" emphasizes their inclusion as a companion in households—hence, the answer is PET.
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The clue "Jelly container" directly refers to the common storage for jelly: a jar. Jelly is typically packaged and sold in glass or plastic jars, making "JAR" the straightforward and literal answer to this clue.
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The clue includes "perhaps," indicating a common scenario or joke. Socks notoriously go missing during laundry, often leaving one sock without its pair. "One sock" describes the lone survivor of a laundry load, fitting the playful nature of the clue.
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The answer "EVS" stands for Electric Vehicles, which are cars powered by batteries rather than internal combustion engines. Their large batteries can weigh over 1,000 pounds, fitting the description in the clue. The "for short" indicates the use of the abbreviation "EVS".
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The clue "Class after trig" refers to the progression of typical math courses. After trigonometry (commonly called "trig"), students often take calculus, which is abbreviated as "calc." This makes CALC the fitting answer as it directly follows "trig" in many standard math curricula.
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The answer is OREOS because they are widely known as creme-filled sandwich cookies. Each Oreo cookie consists of two chocolate wafers with a sweet creme filling in the middle, perfectly matching the clue description. This is a classic and popular crossword answer.
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The solution "VENUE" fits because a wedding typically requires booking a location or site where the event will take place. A venue refers to the specific space (e.g., a hall, garden, or church) reserved for the event, aligning perfectly with the clue’s context.
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The clue "Give off" refers to emitting or releasing something, such as light, heat, or a smell. The verb "emit" directly means to send out or discharge, fitting this definition perfectly. Hence, the answer is EMIT.
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The answer "LIT" works because it is modern slang for something being exciting, lively, or "great" — often used to describe an excellent or energetic party. The phrase has become popular to convey a fun and happening atmosphere, perfectly matching the clue.
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The clue "Holler" directly refers to a loud cry or shout, which aligns with the definition of "YELL." Both words describe a loud vocal expression. No wordplay or special context is indicated, so this is a straightforward synonym-based clue and answer.
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The answer "PDA" stands for "Public Display of Affection," which refers to acts like smooching in public spaces, such as a subway. The clue specifies "in brief," signaling an abbreviation, and "smooching" captures the affectionate act described here.
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Solving today’s NYT Midi Puzzle and stuck on the 8-letter answer to the Kendrick Lamar's "Not Like Us" or Tupac's "Hit 'Em Up"? clue? Don’t worry—Lady Puzzle Pro has you covered! Whether you want the answer right away, revealed letter by letter, or if this wordplay seems too puzzling, keep reading for the explanation.
Kendrick Lamar's "Not Like Us" or Tupac's "Hit 'Em Up"? Answer Explained
The answer is DISJOINT.
DISJOINT uses “joint,” a slang term for a song, paired with “dis,” short for a diss track which are songs meant to insult or criticize others. The clue references two famous diss tracks: “Not Like Us” by Kendrick Lamar and “Hit ’Em Up” by Tupac Shakur. Both songs are known for their confrontational tone, making “dis” the shared label. The answer imagines these tracks as belonging to a “dis” record label, while DISJOINT itself is a common word meaning disconnected. This layered wordplay, music slang plus thematic link, perfectly captures the puzzle’s concept.
Now that you've cracked the 14A Kendrick Lamar's "Not Like Us" or Tupac's "Hit 'Em Up"? clue, you're one step closer to completing today’s Midi Puzzle! If you're still stuck on other clues, don't worry, we've got you covered. Explore more NYT The Midi crossword answers right here, or check out our tools for solving the NYT Crossword, NYT The Mini puzzle, Connections, or Strands.
Today’s NYT Midi Highlights
“Record Labels” is a tight, clever Monday theme that plays on musical terminology in a fresh way. Each themer combines a slang term for a song—jam, joint, cut—with a prefix that doubles as a “record label,” producing entries like SPACEJAM, DISJOINT, and COLDCUT. The real elegance is in the clues, each pointing to two songs whose titles share that prefix: space (Mars/Rocket), dis (Not Like Us/Hit ’Em Up), and cold (Ice/Milkshake).
The references span generations and genres, from David Bowie and Elton John to Kendrick Lamar, Tupac Shakur, Vanilla Ice, and Kelis, giving the puzzle broad appeal.
The fill is smooth and accessible, with lively entries like SLEEP ON IT and ONE SOCK adding sparkle. Overall, it’s a well-constructed, approachable puzzle with a satisfying “aha” that lands cleanly without overcomplicating the theme.
Here’s what caught our attention today:
- David Bowie's "Life on Mars?" or Elton John's "Rocket Man"?
- Vanilla Ice's "Ice Ice Baby" or Kelis's "Milkshake"?
About The Midi
The Midi is a daily crossword puzzle designed to sit between the quick satisfaction of The Mini and the depth of the full Daily Crossword. It offers a compact but more layered solving experience, giving players a new step in the New York Times Games lineup.
While officially launched as a daily puzzle in February 2026, the concept was tested earlier through special puzzle packs and more recently in newsletter editions. Those experiments helped shape what is now a permanent daily feature available exclusively online through the New York Times Games app and website.
Format and Structure
Most Midi puzzles use a 9×9 grid (larger than The Mini but smaller than the traditional crossword), allowing for richer wordplay and themed construction without requiring a long solving session. Toward the end of the week, grids may expand up to 11×11, and occasionally the puzzle appears in non-square formats, with different numbers of rows and columns.
Unlike The Mini, every Midi includes a title, offering a subtle hint at the puzzle’s theme or solving trick. These titles add an extra layer of discovery while keeping the experience approachable.
A Digital-First Puzzle
The Midi is built specifically for digital play. It does not appear in print, and it is available through the New York Times app and website only for subscribers.
Designing the puzzle for screens allows for occasional visual effects and interactive moments that enhance the solving experience in ways print cannot. Even with these innovations, the philosophy remains consistent: puzzles are still handcrafted by human constructors and editors, preserving the editorial voice and thoughtful construction that define New York Times Games.
Editorial Approach
The Midi is edited by Ian Livengood, who also oversees Pips. He creates about three Midi puzzles each week while collaborating with a rotating group of approximately fifteen contributors whose submissions are carefully edited before publication.
This editorial model mirrors the structure used across The New York Times crosswords, where dedicated editors maintain quality and style (like Will Shortz for The Daily and Joel Fagliano for The Mini).
New Rules and Creative Flexibility
The Midi introduces several notable changes to traditional crossword conventions, like:
- Each puzzle features a title. Before, only Sunday NYT puzzles had a title. In Midi, this is meant to give a clue about the theme without needing a distinct clue to play the role of a theme revealer.
- Grids may occasionally break from square symmetry, which is something also happening in the Mini, especially those made by Sam Ezersky.
- Two-letter answers are allowed - this is a feature borrowed from cryptic puzzles, allowing Scrabble (and NYT Crossplay) fans to bank on their skills.
Daily Availability
Puzzles are accessible the evening before the publish date. Weekday and Saturday puzzles: 10 p.m. EST the previous day. Sunday puzzles: 6 p.m. EST on Saturday.