[Talib Kweli]

Yeah, yeah

New Talib Kweli

Yeah, you know what it is

Come on, come on, yeah

Hey yo *repeats*



[Hook: Mary J. Blige]

I try, I try (that's all we can do)

I try, you know I try

I try, I try (yeah)

I try, you know I try



[Verse 1: Talib Kweli]

K. West! Kweli!

Got searched on the plane, Arabic first name

Disturbed by the fame just like Kurt Cobain

Breath of life, kiss of death, my lips pursed the same

You flirt 'til she came

Nothin' hurt like the pain and torture

Daughters of the dust lookin' for a vein

Something to take in vain like the Lord's name

Put your hands together, got 'em all sayin'



[Hook: Mary J. Blige]

I try, I try

I try, you know I try

I try, I try

I try, you know I try



[Verse 2: Talib Kweli]

Yo, it's all ghetto in gear higher, the floor settle

More metal for beef that we don't let the law settle

I try to navigate the treacherous waters of

America's ghettos that set up the slaughteres

But there's more of us

Although we speak in different languages

We all pretty familiar with what our anger is

Young and dangerous, trick and strangulous

Get up on some gangsta shit

Guns to bang ya wit'

And we put it on records to entertain ya wit'

Our growing pains are way deeper than Mike Seavers

Our uniforms is white sneakers and white T-shirts

On top of wife beaters

We like to light reefers

The 'hood need us for rappers, just ain't the right leaders

I put a lot into it

This is my product and I gotta move it

Stop the industry but you can't stop the music



[Interlude: Mary J. Blige]

An upside down kingdom where life is just not fair (upside down kingdom)

Some many sufferin' cuz deep inside they're scared (so scared)

Fear pumped into their veins to keep them from their destiny

Where would they be if you and I don't care?



[Hook: Mary J. Blige]

I try, I try, you know I try

I try, I try, I try, you know I try



[Verse 3: Talib Kweli]

Yo, the things I'm seein' on the news is insane

A stock broker shoot his kid and throw himself in front of a train

A mother leave her baby home for two weeks all by himself

Two years old, eatin' ketchup and mustard, cryin for help

Tryin' to bring your struggle to life

The label want a song about a bubbly life

I have trouble tryin' to write some shit

To BANG in the club through the night

When people suffer tonight

Lord knows I try



[Hook: Mary J. Blige]

I try, I try, I try, you know I try

I try, I try, I try, you know I try



[Interlude: Talib Kweli]

Life is a beautiful struggle

People search through the rubble for a suitable hustle

Some people usin' the noodle, some people usin' the muscle

Some people put it all together, make it fit like a puzzle

Come on, say it now

Life is a beautiful struggle

People search through the rubble for a suitable hustle

Some people usin' the noodle, some people usin' the muscle

Some people put it all together, yeah



[Outro: Mary J. Blige]

I try, I try, you know I try

I try, oh Lord I try

Everyday I



{*Mary J. Bliges harmonizes with the beat*}



Upside down kingdom

Oh, they're so scared

Everyday on the news we can't look around with

something somewhere

I try, I try, you know I try

I try, I try, I try, you know I try

Lord knows, Lord knows we try

Yeah