Peak
21
Weeks
5
Score
457
Chart Year
2024
The official music video for "Tough" was directed mainly by Wyatt Spain Winfrey, with additional directive work by Quavo and Del Rey themselves.[citation needed] The video mostly contains clips of the two singing with each other in open fields, in front of cars. The video ends with Del Rey in the passenger seat smiling at Quavo who is driving a truck.
Lana Del Rey teamed up with rapper Quavo for this playful song about resilience and overcoming hardships. The pair flirt and trade lines about how life has made them both "tough." Del Rey sets the scene with the opening chorus, weaving American imagery into a celebration of hard-won strength. Quavo then takes the reins, transforming "Tough" into a love song that highlights how facing difficulties together creates a deeper bond. Del Rey responds in kind with the second verse, offering her own unique metaphors for toughness. The song ends with a playful invitation from Quavo for Lana to visit his turf. "Tough" originated in January 2024 when Del Rey and Clayton Johnson sat in Nashville freestyling songs on an acoustic guitar. "I showed her a few songs I had been working on, and played her a song idea from a different session," Johnson recalled on Instagram. "She had a vision for it." Del Rey and her regular collaborator gave Johnson a call when she got home and asked if they could rework the Voice Note idea that he'd sent over for "Tough." Del Rey and Quavo then fleshed it out with Cirkut, Nick Bailey, Elysse Jane Yulo, Benny Negrin, Jaxson Free, Josh Dorr and Maddox Batson. Cirkut co-produced the track with Andrew Watt, blending Del Rey's trademark dreamy Americana with Quavo's trap and country elements. It continues the trend of artists exploring country-influenced sounds in 2024 following similar moves by the likes of Beyoncé and Post Malone. Lana Del Rey and Quavo first performed "Tough" during her headline show at Fenway Park in Boston on June 20, 2024. They released the song on July 3, 2024. Directed by Wyatt Spain Winfrey, the music video for "Tough" takes viewers on a journey through a rugged rural landscape. Quavo and Lana Del Rey portray themselves as resilient companions facing life's challenges head-on. Their contrasting styles are highlighted: Quavo, a symbol of strength with his shotgun, and Del Rey with her guitar representing artistic resilience. Wyatt shot the videos for three of Quavo's previous group Migos' songs: "Modern Day," "Need It" "Why Not."
Tough like the scuff on a pair of old leather boots Like the blue-collar, red-dirt attitude Like a .38 made out of brass Tough like the stuff in your grandpa's glass Life's gonna do what it does Sure as the good Lord's up above I'm cut like a diamond shinin' in the rough Tough Tough Come on, take a ride with me Like the 808s beatin' in the trunk in Atlanta, it was tough It was kinda hard for me Crawlin' through the mud, I couldn't find love, then we came up Look at what we are, baby Standin' through the storm, still shinin' like a diamond in the rough Still shinin' and that's hard If you ever lost someone that you love Through the pain, gotta show 'em, give 'em light Still family if you're wrong or you're right No matter, we together It's not somethin' that you wanna do, it's just somethin' you goin' through Tough like the scuff on a pair of old leather boots Like the blue-collar, red-dirt attitude Like a .38 made out of brass Tough like the stuff in your grandpa's glass (grandpa's glass) Life's gonna do what it does (ooh) Sure as the good Lord's up above I'm cut like a diamond shinin' in the rough (shine, shine) Tough Hard Tell me how it's hard for you Like the nickel on strings and your good old Gibson guitar Tell me what it feel like Like the smoke and the drawl every now in the way you talk slow Oh yeah, yeah Like the songs that your mama sing to you And the way that it makes you tell the truth If you come from where you come, then you were born tough Here, say where you come from It's not what you wanna do, it's what you're gonna do Now, it's no place to run If that's what you're gonna do, what am I gonna do? (Tough) Tough like the scuff on a pair of old leather boots Like the blue-collar, red-dirt attitude (yeah, yeah) Like a .38 made out of brass Tough like the stuff in my grandpa's glass (grandpa's glass) Life's gonna do what it does (ooh) Sure as the good Lord's up above I'm cut like a diamond shinin' in the rough (shine, shine) Tough You wanna come to the Nawf? (Mm-hm) I'll show you around That's why I said, "Come take a ride with me" When? Whenever, whenever you ready Call on me, brr I'll give it back when I get there Aight, that's a bet
| Week | Chart Date | Position | Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jul 20, 2024 | 21 | 105 |
| 2 | Jul 27, 2024 | 60 | 66 |
| 3 | Aug 3, 2024 | 61 | 65 |
| 4 | Aug 10, 2024 | 78 | 48 |
| 5 | Aug 17, 2024 | 93 | 33 |