Pioneering funk-metal band Living Colour had been thriving for five years in New York's underground music scene before they hit it big with their 1988 album Vivid. As adventurous as it was accessible, the album would become one of the decade's best hard rock records, mixing the sound with the irresistible groove of jazz, soul, and hip-hop overtones. While groups like the Red Hot Chili Peppers would reach mainstream success with a less complex take on a similar style, Living Colour remained a cult favorite, despite massive acclaim.