It is getting close to the end of the year. So, I inevitably ponder what the album of the year was from Tacoma. There are still a couple of more months to drop something and make your impact on 2012. Right now I would say the top contender for album of the year is Awall, A.K.A., 2-Piece, and Boombox Massacre for Boomman and Mobbin'. This was an all-around dope album with awesome album graphic art and a huge, sell-out album release show. It dropped earlier in the year, so some of the impact has faded by now, but in terms of making noise on the local scene, that album, to me, has done the most so far. However, as of late, there is huge Internet chatter about Bruce Leroy's new album titled, Leroy.  Bruce did not have a huge album release, and as far as I know his album is only available online - no hard-copies. The album is entirely produced by 1st Born and is mastered by DJ Phinnisey, so it sounds perfect.

Bruce does have a dope flow; however, I think his content can be a little surface. He might sacrifice some intelligence for cool. For example, the first song has a fresh beat, but Bruce's first line is, "Leroy be winning, you choking, lynching, Sprewell's details them ho's was spinning." I am not saying it is the most simple, ignorant raps I have ever heard, but it was not enough for me. The rest of the song pretty much stayed in that lane.

The second track is a little more G'd out. He sounds comfortable in this role. It is more of a slower, saucier West Coast beat. It is a harder more hood sound. I think it fits Bruce well. Leroy drops street lessons with his intense, sinister voice.

The third track is a lot smoother and musical. It has a harmonious beat over some soulful handclaps. Leroy peppers the beat with some on-point wording; however, his actual lyrics are pretty simple. It is just not quite enough for me.

For me, the real star of this album is 1st Born. His diverse sound is evident and shines on this project. With Bruce's popularity as an M.C., 1st Born will probably finally get the props he deserves and be recognized as one of the top producers in our area.

Track 4, "Cannabis Collective," is one of the better songs. I thought it would be a played out weed song with that title - but it is far from the formulaic stoned bars that we usually get concerning Mary Jane. This song is hungry, urgent, full of angst, attitude and anger.

Song 5, "No Love," has more of that classic 1st Born sound. He is a very well rounded producer. His songs sound like they have a good mix of samples and original sounds. It makes for a very present-feeling music. His tracks can have a classy, historical, soul sound. The songs can also sound current, fresh and new all at the same time.  However, Leroy's raps stay in the mediocre zone. Do not get me wrong, he sounds good, but when you really listen, you realize the actual lines are not that original. All in all, it is still a way better song about women than the usual demeaning against women hip-hop that is recycled over and over again.

"Beatin Down the Block" is track 6. It has a West Coast rider sound to it. I think it was probably made for those that dig bass in their ride. This song did not do it for me. Bruce is rapping about driving. It just was not that interesting.  Not to mention I found the hook annoying, corny and played

Next is "Highs and Lows". On this track, Leroy displays his ability to hit cadences double-time if he wants to. He is an on-point, rhythmical rapper.  There is a hook sung by Uncle Moo, who lifts the tune to Biggie's, "The World is Filled." At the end of this song Bruce shouts out his hood, Seven-Deuce, and it is pretty much the most exciting part of the song.

"Testimony" is another one of my favorite tracks. He starts out with some serious rhymes. Here he addresses his competition with a severity that is frightening. I was feeling the drums 1st Born laced on this beat. These are battle bars at their best. They are not generic punch lines, Leroy is seriously killing other M.C.s on this song. Perhaps Bruce is at his best when he is focused on tough-rhymes like on this song, as opposed to trying to be cool on other songs. The title "Testimony" had me hoping this would be one of the more relevant meaningful songs and I was right. If Bruce dropped a whole album of important songs like this I would be a die-hard fan. One of my favorite lines is, "You think you on the level I'm on, ya couldn't even snatch a pebble from my palm."

The next song "The Dub" is one of the better songs about Washington state that I have heard. It does not focus on the played out motif of the Tacoma Dome and Space-Needle. Here Leroy writes tricky, complicated, complex lines about the vibe of our state. Well done Bruce.

Track 10 is "Back to the Indica" featuring Spaid and Cally Red from Second Family. This is an awesome combination of M.C.s. I must admit, whenever I see Cally has a verse as a feature on someone else's song, I get excited. This song is an ode to the slow, calming, soothing, numbing  effects of Indica. Spaid comes with that O.G. vibe that only he can bring. Even the beat provided by 1st Born sounds like it was wrapped up and soaked in thick, sticky nugs of Indica. All three M.C.s shine equal on this song though. It is well rounded, with not one M.C. stealing the show. Each one brings something needed to the song. It is also one of the better weed-themed songs I have ever heard.

The next song, "Stacks on Decks" is another song about women. The beat is nice and simple. Bruce is accompanied by cT on this song. He has some old-school pimp lines. Bruce's first verse is pretty fresh - but cT's is pretty harsh on the fairer sex. I was not feeling this one either. Bruce's second verse must have been negatively influenced by cT's vibe, because Bruce falls back onto the lame pimpin' ain't easy motif that has been done and redone to death.

"Wake Up" is a quality make it out the trap, hustling for a better life anthem. It is a bit predictable with lots of lines about material wealth - but it is not balling out of control obnoxiousness. Bruce still drops a few jewels about the dangers of greed. It is so-so.

The last song is "Make It." This song is a personal, meaningful track about trying to make it in music and how it affects his personal life and relationships. There is no hook on this track, as the bars are so deep; the listener needs to reflect on what they just heard Bruce say. It is one of the better songs on the album. He stays away from the regular cool bars and treads into the self - which I appreciated.

Perhaps if Bruce Leroy did a few more local shows and got out on the streets doing some promo, then more than just the Internet and a few online radio stations would be hollering about this album. When I am out and about, I just do not hear heads out in the trenches talking about this album yet - but just wait. If Bruce drops a video or rocks a big show before the year is over, he easily could snatch album of the year. With three official albums under his belt, Bruce Leroy is turning out to be a prolific local M.C. The album is available on www.bruceleroymusic.bandcamp.com. It is donation, so pay what you want. You cannot lose.