Jerard Rice, hailing from Webster, Massachusetts, is a rising independent artist whose music is a creative blend of hip-hop, R&B and pop. His new debut album Love Shouldn’t Cost a Thing blends these styles together to give the listener a beautiful display of his artistry and music style.
Rice navigates love, identity, loss, resilience, and self-worth across ten compelling tracks. The project has most recently been described as “personal, powerful, and fearless,” where every bar feels lived and felt by him. Rather than chasing chart formula, Rice crafts a musical diary that prioritizes emotional depth and representation.
Jerard Rice is able to blend these styles to deliver his messages into an eloquent, easily digestable 10-track formula. Tracks like “Starz”, “New Jack” and “Blog It” bring his message together in high energy hip-hop and pop format, followed by tracks like “Petty Love” and Starvin” that balance it out with an R&B, blues and pain rap sound. Rice is able to bring these sounds and messages together all within 25 minutes, making it a smooth listen for fans of independent rap.
Love Shouldn’t Cost a Thing is far more than a debut—it’s a bold manifesto of self-love, accountability, and sonic curiosity. Rice balances mainstream appeal with meaningful content. If you’re seeking an album rich in honest emotion, musical diversity, and social commentary, this newcomer delivers. It’s one of the most compelling independent releases of this year.
Love Shouldn’t Cost a Thing is out now on all platforms and streaming on HipHopTXL.com. Be sure to check out some singles from his album on Hip Hop TXL’s Playlist on Spotify.