Merkules, in the time of “Bad News”

The Canadian rapper Merkules, his real name Cole Stevenson, hails from Surrey, British Columbia. His music isn't just about partying or success, but also touches on deep, personal topics. It's these honesties that give his songs real power and resonate with his target audience.

“Bad News”: A New Chapter

On July 24th, Merkules unveiled his latest music video entitled Bad News, released at the end of July 2025, quickly gained attention for its raw energy and cathartic lyrics, in which the artist expresses his resilience in the face of the ups and downs of life and work.

This piece is a continuation of his last album Survivor's Guilt. Merkules continues to progress without ever losing that personal touch that makes it so charming.

1 billion views: a historic record

Earlier this year, Merkules reached a symbolic milestone: he surpassed 1 billion views on his YouTube channel. Young Merkules, with over 342 videos since his debut in 2011. While no single solo track has reached this number on its own, it is his entire output, including his many viral remixes, that has allowed him to achieve this remarkable performance. Notably, his rap cover of the hit Old Town Road by Lil Nas X and Billy Ray Cyrus, published in 2019, remains one of his biggest successes with nearly 70 million views alone.

This billion views consecrates Merkules as a heavyweight in independent rap, recognized not only for its longevity and productivity, but also for the exceptional loyalty of its community.

Building on this success, Merkules released the album in early 2025 Survivor's Guilt, marked by numerous large-scale collaborations (Shaquille O'Neal, Afroman, Classified, D12, and more). His ability to renew himself while remaining close to his roots makes him a reference in Canadian and international Hip-Hop.

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