His name is Arabic, meaning 'the seeker' or 'student of truth and knowledge'. His parents were both college professors: his mother an English professor, his father a sociology professor. As a youth, he was drawn to Afrocentric rappers, such as De La Soul and other members of the Native Tongues Posse and in 1995 began recording with producer Hi-Tek and rapper Mos Def who he met at central park, and later attended New York University with. With Mos Def (together the pair were known as Black Star), Kweli achieved some mainstream success with Mos Def & Talib Kweli Are Black Star (1998). Also noted are Kweli and Mos' central input on Rawkus Records' compilation album Soundbombing (1997). Soundbombing also include collaborations between Kweli and DJ Hi Tek as Reflection Eternal. Together they released Train of Thought in 2000, which sold better than most alternative hip hop albums at the time. He has since released a critically acclaimed solo debut, Quality in 2002. In 2004, he released his second solo album, The Beautiful Struggle. His third solo album Ear Drum was released on August 21st, 2007.
Kweli has created his own record label, Blacksmith Records and has recently signed acclaimed female rapper Jean Grae, with rumors continuing to grow that underground veteran MF Doom is the next artist to be picked up. He left Geffen Records and has signed with the Warner Music Group.
He has since broken through slightly more towards the mainstream, thanks in large part to several appearance on the comedy show Chappelle's Show, both solo and with long-time collaborator Mos Def, this is due to a friendship between the host and creator of the show, comedian Dave Chappelle and the rapper. He also had a guest spot on friend and frequent collaborator Kanye West's widely successful debut album The College Dropout on the track "Get 'Em High". West has also produced some of Kweli's songs, including his biggest commercial hit "Get By". Kweli can also be seen in a commercial for the NCAA's Big Ten Conference, rapping about the league's basketball teams. Talib Kweli provided the voice for the main character, Trane, in the video game Marc Ecko's Getting Up, released in 2006.
I Try
Talib Kweli Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I try, you know I try
I try, I try (yeah)
I try, you know I try
K. West! Kweli!
Got searched on the plane, Arabic first name
Disturbed by the fame just like Kurt Cobain
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'
I try, I try
I try, you know I try
I try, I try
I try, you know I try
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 anger is
Young and dangerous, ??
Get up on some gangsta shit
Guns to bang ya wit'
And we put it on records to entertain ya wit'
I'm grown with pains 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
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?
I try, I try, you know I try
I try, I try, I try, you know I try
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
I try, I try, I try, you know I try
I try, I try, I try, you know I try
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
I try, I try, you know I try
I try, oh Lord I try
Everyday I
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
The song "I Try" by Talib Kweli is a soulful testament to the artist's efforts to navigate the complexities and injustices of life. The song carries a range of emotions and conflicts, as Kweli grapples with his own pain and the suffering of those around him. The repeated refrain, "I try, I try, you know I try," is a consistent reminder of the artist's dedication to persevering in the face of hardship.
The opening verse references Kweli's experience of being searched on a plane due to his Arabic first name, highlighting the racial profiling and prejudiced attitudes present in contemporary society. Kweli also draws a parallel between his own struggles with fame and those of Kurt Cobain, who famously suffered from addiction and mental health issues.
Throughout the song, Kweli confronts the harsh realities of life in America's ghettos, where poverty, violence, and addiction are pervasive. The bridge of the song employs religious imagery, drawing on the concept of an "upside down kingdom" where life is not fair and fear pervades. Despite the bleakness of this picture, Kweli maintains a sense of urgency and an unrelenting commitment to doing what he can to make a difference.
Overall, "I Try" is a powerful expression of emotional honesty and personal integrity. Kweli lays bare his own struggles and frustrations, while also speaking to the broader injustices and systemic issues present in contemporary society.
Line by Line Meaning
I try, I try
That's all we can do
I try, you know I try
There is no fallback plan, only trying again and again
K. West! Kweli!
Acknowledging and supporting other artists
Got searched on the plane, Arabic first name
The racial profiling experienced by many
Disturbed by the fame just like Kurt Cobain
The turmoil that comes with celebrity status
Breath of life, kiss of death, my lips pursed the same
The balance between creation and destruction
You flirt 'til she came
The allure of love
Nothin' hurt like the pain and torture
The agony of suffering
Daughters of the dust lookin' for a vein
The desperation of addiction
Something to take in vain like the Lord's name
The use of substances and profanity as coping mechanisms
Put your hands together, got 'em all sayin'
Uniting and engaging with the audience
Yo, it's all ghetto in gear higher, the floor settle
The environment of poverty and crime
More metal for beef that we don't let the law settle
The violence that is left unsolved by law enforcement
I try to navigate the treacherous waters of
The challenges of living in America's ghettos
America's ghettos that set up the slaughteres
The systemic oppression that leads to violence
But there's more of us
A call to action for unity and empowerment
Although we speak in different languages
Despite our differences and diversity
We all pretty familiar with what anger is
The shared experience of anger and frustration
Young and dangerous, ??
The recklessness of youth
Get up on some gangsta shit
The appeal and emulation of thug culture
Guns to bang ya wit'
The prevalence of firearms and gun violence
And we put it on records to entertain ya wit'
The commodification of violence and crime in music
I'm grown with pains way deeper than Mike Seavers
The emotional trauma and struggles of adulthood
Our uniforms is white sneakers and white T-shirts
The fashion of inner-city youth
On top of wife beaters
The prevalence of domestic violence
We like to light reefers
The use of marijuana as a coping mechanism
The 'hood need us for rappers, just ain't the right leaders
The misplacement of role models and leadership
I put a lot into it
The investment of time and effort into music
This is my product and I gotta move it
The necessity of success and financial stability
Stop the industry but you can't stop the music
The unstoppable force of artistic expression
An upside down kingdom where life is just not fair (upside down kingdom)
The harsh realities of life and inequality
Some many sufferin' cuz deep inside they're scared (so scared)
The prevalence of fear and trauma
Fear pumped into their veins to keep them from their destiny
The systemic oppression that limits opportunities
Where would they be if you and I don't care?
The importance of empathy and compassion
Life is a beautiful struggle
The simultaneous beauty and pain of life
People search through the rubble for a suitable hustle
The pursuit of success and financial stability
Some people usin' the noodle, some people usin' the muscle
The diversity of approaches to success and survival
Some people put it all together, make it fit like a puzzle
The success of those who combine different strategies
Come on, say it now
Encouraging the audience to participate
Everyday I
The daily struggle
Oh, they're so scared
The prevalence of fear and trauma
Everyday on the news we can't look around with
The constant negativity in the media
Something somewhere
The pervasive issues and challenges of society
Lord knows, Lord knows we try
Despite the challenges, there is a constant effort to improve
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, O/B/O DistroKid, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: John Stephens, Mary Blige, Kanye West, Talib Kweli Greene
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@stonedtoe
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'
I try, I try
I try, you know I try
I try, I try
I try, you know I try
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 anger is
Young and dangerous, ??
Get up on some gangsta shit
Guns to bang ya wit'
And we put it on records to entertain ya wit'
I'm grown with pains 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
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?
I try, I try, you know I try
I try, I try, I try, you know I try
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
I try, I try, I try, you know I try
I try, I try, I try, you know I try
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
I try, I try, you know I try
I try, oh Lord I try
Everyday I
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
@suhaliasauls4510
This song still brings me to tears. When I was a little girl I saw a bunch of stuff I shouldn't have seen. Music was my only escape. I didnt want to be a musician but I needed somebody to just say what I was dying to say. Then I heard this song. I cried because it captured everything I was going through. It still makes me cry like a baby. I'm out of that situation and have been for ages now but the scars are still there. Im not into hip hop much but this song helped release the frustration I had. Listening to it now I can't believe what I've overcome. I'm all grown up and graduating from law school, aiming towards a PhD and a big family. I'm gona make sure my kids never see what I saw.
@jblack3.3.4.
Amen sista
@marvjackson2347
💪🏾 💯 🖤
@suhaliasauls8971
❤️🙏🏾✊🏾🖤🇿🇦
@thomascrowley9122
Congratulations. Keep Grinding
@abstractmedia8949
Respect.
@kawasakininja13
Yeezy's beats + Talib's lyrical superiority = perfection!
@nightnday6675
Whenever Mary J Blige is on a track you know that chorus is gonna be hot.
@That_Guy2424
Same with skylar gray and nate dogg
@thedirectorscut4848
I try I try I try I try I try I try I try I try I try you know I try = hot chorus