In 2025, Meryl reaches a major milestone with the release of her project “La Dame”. Surrounded by a wide range of artists including Theodora, Danthology, Eva, N’Ken, Poplane, Zequin, Latop, ZT Elsinky, Smally King, Lawskie, as well as R2, Pinpin OSP, Miimii KDS, LRB490, and Lion P, the Martinican rapper delivers a rich and multifaceted body of work. This extensive lineup is no coincidence—it reflects a clear ambition to craft a true sonic fusion, blending shatta, afro influences, and contemporary urban music.
Meryl also makes a strong impression with the ambitious posse cut “Chaos”, bringing together five artists around a shared energy. Praised by Pitchfork, “La Dame” stands out as a fully realized project, both cohesive and bold. In this same momentum, the artist unveils the visual for “Van Basten”, alongside R2—a track whose title directly references Marco van Basten, a European football icon of the 1990s and a legendary figure of AC Milan during its golden era.
Meryl and R2 strike hard with “Van Basten”
The track is produced by DJ Tutuss, Josh, and Nudiii. Regular collaborators of Meryl, DJ Tutuss and Nudiii once again prove their key role in shaping her sonic identity, having already been credited multiple times on “La Dame”. Meanwhile, Josh, a multi-platinum French producer, brings a strong track record with hits such as “Habitué”, “À chaque jour suffit sa peine”, and “Notif” by Shay.
Driven by a haunting piano sample and Caribbean-inspired rhythms, “Van Basten” perfectly embodies the project’s artistic direction. The track leans into a confident egotrip dynamic, with R2 and Meryl trading sharp punchlines:
“J’sais qu’elle aime les méchants, les Avon Barksdale
‘Tournée générale,’ crie le barman
J’sais qu’dans la bre’, qu’elle veut qu’j’la malmène”
Or again:
“Ils m’voient en ti-peu parce qu’ils s’fient à ma dégaine
Charo, t’arrêtes pas les balles, tu t’vois en ter Stegen”
Visually, the music video embraces a minimalist yet highly refined aesthetic. Directed by Tom Menetrey, a longtime collaborator of Meryl, the visual follows previous works such as “Mauvaise idée”, “Soucis plein la tête”, and “Le monde est méchant”. The director has also made his mark by directing the collaboration between Ninho and Niska on “Collabo”, further cementing his presence in the urban music video landscape.
