The iconic Black rock band Living Colour's Time's Up, released
in 1990, was recorded in the aftermath of the spectacular critical
and commercial success of their debut record Vivid. Time's Up is a
musical and lyrical triumph, incorporating distinct forms and styles
of music and featuring inspired collaborations with artists as varied
as Little Richard, Queen Latifah, Maceo Parker, and Mick Jagger. The
clash of sounds and styles don't immediately fit. The confrontational
hardcore-thrash metal - complete with Glover's apocalyptic wail - in
the title track is not a natural companion with Doug E. Fresh's human
beat box on "Tag Team Partners," but it's precisely this
bold and brilliant collision that creates the barely-controlled
chaos. And isn't rock & roll about chaos?
Living Colour's sophomore effort holds great relevance in light of
its forward-thinking politics and lyrical engagement with racism,
classism, police brutality, and other social and political issues of
great importance. Through interviews with members of Living Colour,
and others involved in the making of Time's Up, Kimberly Mack
explores the creation and reception of this artistically challenging
album, while examining the legacy of this culturally important and
groundbreaking American rock band.