702 (pronounced "Seven-O-Two"), named after
the area code of their hometown of Las Vegas, Nevada, is an American
platinum-selling R&B trio. Originally a quartet, the group became
a trio, which includes sisters Irish (born June 2, 1980), and LeMisha
'Misha' (born June 10, 1978) Grinstead, and lead singer Kameelah
Williams (born March 8, 1978). Irish's twin sister Orish Grinstead
(June 2, 1980 – April 20, 2008)[1] was briefly a founding member
and later an occasional substitute vocalist.
In Las Vegas, sisters LeMisha and Irish Grinstead, and their friend
Kameelah Williams, were students at the Las Vegas Academy of Performing
Arts. Irish, her twin sister Orish, and LeMisha occasionally sang
in the lobby of Caesars Palace where they were discovered by actor/comedian
Sinbad. He visited their home in order to convince their parents
to send the trio to Atlanta for a convention and music competition.
Though the girls missed the deadline for entry, Sinbad used his name
to get them in.[1] "Sweeta than Suga," as they were then
called (Sinbad suggested the name), came in second in the competition.
As the convention was nearing a close, they met Michael Bivins (formerly
of New Edition and Bell Biv DeVoe) who agreed to work with the sisters.
They were briefly joined by their cousin Amelia Childs. After they
made their recorded debut on Subway's hit single "This Lil'
Game We Play", Amelia dropped out of the group[1] and was replaced
by Kameelah Williams. After recording a few demos as a quartet including "Steelo",
and "Get It Together", Orish decided to leave the group
(even though her vocals appear on the first album). Bivins continued
to work with different producers and songwriters to get the right
feel for their first album. The reconfigured group was christened "702," which
is Las Vegas' area code, a name which Bivens suggested.[1]
[edit] 1996–1998: Rise to fame
Main article: No Doubt (702 album)
Their debut album, No Doubt shot to #1 on Top Heatseekers. Missy
Elliott co-wrote & produced 4 songs on the album including the
smash hit single "Steelo" and its remix. The album spawned
the 3 hit singles: "Steelo", "All I Want" and "Get
It Together". "Steelo" with altered lyrics was used
as the theme song to the Nickelodeon television show Cousin Skeeter & "All
I Want" was featured in the Nickelodeon movie Good Burger. 702
also performed on Nickelodeon's All That. "Get It Together" exploded
by giving the group a #3 R&B single and a #10 Pop single on the
Billboard charts. The album earned them a Soul Train Lady Of Soul
Award in 1997. It sold over 500,000 copies worldwide. In addition
to the album, 702 opened for New Edition, Keith Sweat, and Blackstreet
during the 1996-97 New Edition reunion tour. They also appeared on
Elliott's debut album Supa Dupa Fly on her 1998 song "Beep Me
911" which didn't make it onto the American charts but reached
#14 on the UK Singles Chart. The girls also sang with Busta Rhymes'
new artist Rampage. "My Friend" was featured on the soundtrack
to Men in Black. In 1998 702 made cameos in the sitcoms Sister, Sister
and Moesha.
[edit] 1999–2000: Career development
Main article: 702 (album)
After going gold with their debut album, they released their self-titled
second album, 702. The first single off of the album "Where
My Girls At?" was written and produced by Missy Elliott and
made #4 on the Billboard Hot 100 and went gold. The single spent
months on the chart, became nominated for the song of the year, and
gained them a 1999 Soul Train Lady Of Soul Award nomination. The
album made the Top 40 on Billboard 200 and earned them a 2000 Soul
Train Lady Of Soul Award nomination and sold more than 500,000 copies
going gold. 702, before releasing their second album, had also sang
the national anthem for the WNBA season opener. 702 was also apart
of Brandy's Never Say Never tour. On June 18, 702's LeMisha gave
birth to her son Tony Lyndon and left in order to take care of her
son. Orish took her place during LeMisha's brief absence. They also
made a cameo in the 1999 ABC-TV movie Double Platinum starring Brandy
and Diana Ross. 702 also signed a deal with Wilhelmina Models. "You
Don't Know" and "Gotta Leave" were released but failed
reach the success "Where My Girls At? did. In 2000, 702 along
with Eric Benét were Brian McKnight's opening act for his
tour supporting his album Back at One.
[edit] 2001-2002: Hiatus and "Pootie Tangin"
Once the hype for the second album died down, 702 took a hiatus
from the spotlight. Kameelah Williams decided to part from the group
and go solo. She briefly became the new protégé of
Faith Evans and signed a deal to be managed by Faith and her husband,
Todd Russaw, under their Pedigree MGI Management. Kameelah sang backup
and wrote 3 songs for Faith Evans' album, Faithfully. She also sang
backup for Missy Elliott on her Miss E...So Addictive third single "Take
Away". In 2001 it was rumored that she joined the R&B band
Total but was later denied. Later that year, it was reported that
the band would be featured on Aaliyah's eponymous album for the track "Candy
Girls", which would also feature Missy Elliott & Timbaland.
However, the track has been shelved.
The Grinstead sisters, the remaining members of 702, decided to
retake their place in the spotlight and enlisted Cree Lamore to replace
Meelah. Under the revamped 702, they recorded the lead single "Pootie
Tangin" for the Chris Rock movie, Pootie Tang. The song failed
to make any charts but earned them a 2002 Soul Train Lady Of Soul
Award nomination.
[edit] 2003-2009 : Star
Main article: Star (702 album)
With Meelah returning to the group, replacing Cree Lamore. 702 returned
to record their third album. The album Star was released in March
2003 and made the Top 50 on the Billboard 200. The girls worked with
singers Mario Winans, Faith Evans and Clipse and producers The Neptunes,
Mike City, Kevin "She'kspere" Briggs. The single "Star" and "I
Still Love You" failed to make the Billboard Hot 100 but did
make Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks. "Star" at
#98 and I Still Love You" at #49. The album earned them two
Soul Train Lady of Soul Award nominations later in 2003. Also in
2003, 702 shared lead vocals on the track "Gamble It" from
the album "Emotions" by Sirena. Irish Grinstead appeared
in The Brewster Project in 2004. In 2006, 702 appeared on the independent
album E Sharp Presents[2]. The composition of that group was Misha,
Irish and Orish Grinstead but the cd cover image from their second
album "702" appears on the cover. LeMisha Grinstead, under
the name "LeMisha 702", in 2007 released a song titled "What
I Got" that appeared on the independent album E Sharp Presents
vol. II[3]. Original member Orish Grinstead, twin sister of Irish,
died on April 20, 2008, from kidney failure at the age of 27. She
can be seen as one of the original four members of 702 in the video, "This
Lil' Game We Play" with Subway.
[edit] 2010-present
In Autumn 2010, Meelah confirmed via her official twitter that the
she is now permanently solo and is currently working on her solo
album[4].
[edit] Awards
American Music Awards
Year Result Category
2000 Nominated Favorite Soul/R&B New Artist
For: "702"
BET Awards
Year Result Category
2001 Nominated Best Female Group
For: "702"
Soul Train Lady Of Soul Awards
Year Result Category
1997 Won Best R&B/Soul Album of the Year - Group, Band or Duo
For: "No Doubt"
1999 Nominated Best R&B/Soul Single - Group, Band or Duo
For: "Where My Girls At?"
2000 Best R&B/Soul Album of the Year - Group, Band or Duo
For: "702"
2002 Best R&B/Soul Single - Group, Band or Duo
For: "Pootie Tangin"
2003 Best R&B/Soul Album of the Year - Group, Band or Duo
For: "Star"
2003 Best R&B/Soul Single - Group, Band or Duo
For: "I Still Love You"