Name: Bar for Bar by Ricco V Chanthapho
Duration: 3 min 23 s
Description: “Bar for Bar” is a raw lyrical showcase—hard-hitting lines delivered with honesty and grit, turning life’s struggles into rhythm and rhyme.

“Demons in My Head” dives into the raw struggle of battling inner darkness and addiction. Ricco’s lyrics expose the fight between survival and surrender, turning his pain into haunting, powerful poetry.

LYRICS SNIPPET
I hear you calling daily,
Wanting change in ways nobody can save me.
My one true love swims through my veins,
Taking me to a place I don’t wanna be.
An evil beast just tamed me.

Demons in my head wait patiently—
But I pray them away daily.
Every time I awake,
I’m reclaiming me.

***

This track contains references to addiction and suicidal thoughts. These lyrics reflect Ricco V. Chanthapho’s personal struggles and are shared to honor his voice and truth. If you or someone you know is struggling, please seek support: in the U.S., dial or text 988 for the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline

Demons in my head

"I Grip the Mic Tight" is based on the original lyrics of Ricco V. Chanthapho. Writing was his weapon against demons, his way of turning pain into rhythm and survival into poetry. This release preserves his words and intention, bringing forward music that he created but never got to share with the world.

LYRICS SNIPPET
“I grip the mic tight, it’s like it’s a part of me,
Every time I shine my evil demons tryna slaughter me.
But where there’s dark, there’s always light, my angels calm me,
Stay true to myself, so all you frauds, please don’t bother me.”

*This track contains references to addiction and suicidal thoughts. These lyrics reflect Ricco V. Chanthapho’s personal struggles and are shared to honor his voice and truth. If you or someone you know is struggling, please seek support: in the U.S., dial or text 988 for the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline

I grip the mic tight

“Bar for Bar” is a raw lyrical showcase—hard-hitting lines delivered with honesty and grit, turning life’s struggles into rhythm and rhyme.

Bar for Bar

In memory of Ricco Vaughn Chanthapho RIP 🙏❤️ 

This collection features tracks composed from Ricco’s own lyrics and writings, preserved in the journal he left in my care. I believe there was a reason he entrusted them to me, and I feel called to share his words with the word.

Ricco was a poet at heart, a soul who carried both brilliance and burden. His life was a testament to the beauty and the struggle of being human—torn between light and shadow, yet always reaching for expression. Through his words and writings, he transformed pain into poetry, capturing the raw edges of addiction, love, and hope.

A son, a father, a brother, nephew, cousin and a friend, Ricco loved deeply and fiercely. Though his battle with opioids weighed heavy, he never lost his gift for language or his desire to be heard. His journals became his refuge, his lyrics an unfiltered window into the storms he faced within.

Ricco aspired to be a rap star, channeling his voice into rhythm and rhyme. This is where these songs were born—from his journals, where he poured out every truth, every struggle, every dream. Music was more than a dream for him—it was his way of speaking truth to the world, bar for bar, line for line. His lyrics carried the rawness of his struggle and the fire of his spirit, proof that even in hardship, creativity could shine.

Ricco’s journey was not without hardship, but it was filled with honesty, creativity, and love. His story is one of resilience, vulnerability, and truth—a reminder that even in the darkest places, there are sparks of light. His legacy lives on in his writings, his music, and in the hearts of those who loved him.

Before his lyrics were ever recorded in studio tracks, Ricco shared his voice and passion through videos on YouTube. His performances there captured the raw emotion and talent that defined his artistry. These early recordings remain a glimpse into the heart of his journey.
Watch his performances on YouTube: Ricco Chanthapho

Bar for Bar

Ricco V Chanthapho

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