Album Review: Love Shouldn't Cost A Thing by Jerard Rice

By Matt Watts Preview Link

In a world that often values fluff over substance, Jerard Rice’s Love Shouldn't Cost A Thing is a refreshing and fearless reminder that authenticity is priceless. Blending hip-hop, R&B, pop, world, and blues influences, Rice crafts a personal and powerful 10-track journey through love, loss, growth, and redemption. The album is not only musically diverse but emotionally layered—drawing from Rice’s lived experience as an artist, activist, and neurodivergent creative. Each song reveals a different chapter of his story, inviting listeners into his world with unflinching honesty and undeniable swagger.

Starz (WorldBeat)

Opening the album with a contagious anthem, “Starz” is pure uplift. Over a hypnotic hook and catchy melodies, Rice delivers lines like “let me show you off in the right light,” turning admiration into empowerment. It’s a tribute to the inner glow we sometimes forget we have, especially during dark times. One of the most radio-ready cuts on the project, this song kick's off the album and sets the stage.

New Jack

“New Jack” starts deceptively tender, with music-box arpeggios and airy textures that set up an introspective mood. Then the bass drops, and Rice pivots into confident, rhythmic flow, narrating his rise from rock bottom to self-reinvention. The beat knocks, but the message hits even harder—this is about shedding the old and stepping fully into your worth.

Blog It

With a booming production by JJ Lunden, “Blog It” is a high-octane anthem about perception, power, and flipping the narrative. It challenges the way public opinion latches onto people’s worst moments—“used to flip them packs, now look at us flipping margin.” A highlight on the album, the track’s chorus is addictive, and Rice’s sharp delivery keeps it anchored in real-life stakes.

Petty Love

Switching gears, “Petty Love” opens with a guitar riff and dives into the messiness of heartbreak. This track has an organic, almost organic -meets-R&B flavor that shows off Rice’s versatility. The lyrics cut deep—“Don’t you say you love me, you just met me”—echoing the frustration of false intimacy and unresolved pain. It’s vulnerable, raw, and completely human.

Popeye

“Popeye” opens with an Eastern-influenced soundscape and vocalese that instantly grabs your attention. Lyrically, it tackles weighty themes—identity, judgment, systemic inequities—but with lyrical precision and nuance. “Most won’t see it,” Rice raps, as the song unfolds into a powerful commentary on how marginalized voices are often ignored. A socially conscious standout.

Juice

“Juice” blends classical structure with soulful R&B horns, creating a sound that feels both cinematic and streetwise. Rice reflects on power and what we do with it: “Would you use that influence to empower others?” With nods to cultural icons like Tupac, the track is both a nod to legacy and a challenge to the next generation. A sleek, mature record with lasting replay value.

No Brady ft. JMuzique

A freestyle tribute to Tom Brady, “No Brady” is full of admiration for excellence, hustle, and legacy. Featuring JMuzique and engineered by Sinatra Sauce, the song uses sports metaphors to talk about leadership, ambition, and resilience. It’s a celebration of icons—flawed and revered alike—and a reminder that greatness isn’t accidental. A sure cross-over hit.

C’est La Vie

With a melodic blend of hip-hop therapy and R&B soul, “C’est La Vie” delivers both pain and perspective. The chorus is hauntingly repetitive—“I can’t f*** with you”—capturing the emotional weight of walking away from what no longer serves you. The track’s bluesy, introspective layers paint a vivid picture of growth through loss when a relationship is no longer working.

Zoomzoom

“Zoomzoom” wastes no time getting to the point. A song about clarity, betrayal, and boundary-setting, it’s fierce and direct. “Either you for me or not,” Rice states, calling out fake energy with no hesitation. Musically, it’s edgy and dark, with an almost trap-noir vibe that adds to its urgency.

Starvin

Closing the album is “Starvin,” a piano-based soul-baring finale that encapsulates Rice’s hunger—not just for success, but for impact. Dedicated to lost loved ones and shaped by deep personal grief, the track is emotionally loaded yet musically vibrant. It’s about transformation, legacy, and the aching desire to rise above your circumstances for yourself and your community.

Jerard Rice’s Love Shouldn’t Cost A Thing is more than an album—it’s a mirror, a diary, and a megaphone. With each track, Rice unpacks the trials and triumphs that have shaped him, creating a body of work that is unapologetically honest and artistically bold. If you’re looking for music with purpose, passion, and real perspective, this album delivers. And in a time when surface-level songs dominate the charts, Jerard Rice reminds us that the deepest cuts leave the most lasting marks. One of the best album's we've heard this year, Love Shouldn’t Cost A Thing drops July 11th. Don’t miss it. Preview Links Love Shouldn't Cost A Thing Listen and Connect

Experience Love Shouldn’t Cost A Thing on all major platforms, coming July 11:  Spotify  YouTube  Website

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