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Lana Del Rey and Quavo Announce New Single ‘Tough’

Lana Del Rey and Quavo have teamed up for the most epic crossover ever: a trap-country song leaving fans entranced all summer, releasing sooner than they think.
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Lana Del Rey and Quavo have teamed up for the most epic crossover ever: a trap-country song leaving fans entranced all summer, releasing sooner than they think.

It has been quite the summer for American singer-songwriter Lana Del Rey. From making her return to the desert for Coachella after a decade to her first stadium show and being named a headliner for Hangout Music Festival, Del Rey is booked and busy.

Del Rey is returning to the music scene, releasing her latest single with Migos rapper Quavo. The song “Tough” will be released on July 3, just in time for Independence Day. Fans have gotten a sneak peek of what the track sounds like from snippets shared on social media and via the duo performing the song live at Del Rey’s first sold-out stadium show in Fenway Park.

Many fans may wonder how these two artists from completely different backgrounds are collaborating on a song together. But for die hard fans of Lana Del Rey, the answer is obvious. Del Rey has been a fan of hip-hop and rap her whole life, blending rap elements into several of her past songs. The singer even enlisted the help of several rappers in the past, such as A$AP Rocky on “Groupie Love” and “Summer Bummer” and Playboi Carti on “Summer Bummer.”

On June 19, a day before Del Rey was set to perform at Fenway Park, she teased a snippet of the new track on her Instagram. The song plays in the background, featuring Quavo posing with finger guns behind her. With soothing melodies and a calming era, fans hear Del Rey and Quavo singing these lyrics:

“Tough like the scarf 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 my grandpa’s glass/Life’s gonna do what it does/ Sure as the good lord’s up above/ Cut like a diamond shining in the rough, tough.”

Since Del Rey announced she was creating a new country album, Lasso, fans have wondered when the singer will tap back into her country roots, as seen in past projects such as Blue Bannisters and Chemtrails Over the Country Club.

Del Rey takes a break between the release of each album, typically two years. Fans are excited that Del Rey is working on another album despite being shocked when she released a snippet of “Tough” out of the blue.

A day after Del Rey’s first headlining performance at Fenway Park, she celebrated her birthday, and Quavo celebrated her by sharing an intimate video of them performing together. Yes, you heard that right.

The pair came together to perform “Tough” for the first time for her sold-out show. Del Rey was beaming in a shimmering red dress. Quavo opted for a black leather jacket with jeans, the perfect representation of “Americana core” prevalent amongst Del Rey’s previous albums.

Del Rey and Quavo are the ultimate duo, complimenting each other’s voices perfectly as they sing together on the new track. While rumors swirl of a romantic entanglement between the pair, all we can say is we are living for such a powerful collaboration that will reach the top of the charts.

Until then, put on your dress tonight, with matching heart-shaped sunglasses, to prepare for the full release of “Tough” on all music platforms on July 3. To pre-save the new single, click here.