[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 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 d**h, 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 than falsetto 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 to slaughter us But there's more of us Although we speak in different languages We all pretty familiar with what anger is Young and dangerous, trigger stranglers Get up on some gangsta sh** Guns to bang ya wit' And we put it on records to entertain ya wit' Our growing pains go way deeper than Mike Seaver's 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 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 Three 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 sh** 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 [Hook: Mary J. Blige] I try, I try I try, you know I try I try, I try I try, you know I try 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