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702 (pronounced "Seven-Oh-Two"), named after the area code of their hometown of Las Vegas, Nevada, is an American platinum-selling female R&B trio. Originally a quartet, the group eventually became a trio, which includes twin sisters Irish (born June 2, 1980), and Orish Grinstead (born June 2, 1980, died April 20, 2008), their sister LeMisha 'Misha' Grinstead (born June 10, 1978) and lead singer Kameelah 'Meelah' Williams (born March 8, 1978) who left the group in 2001 to start her own solo career but returned in 2003. For further information, see Las Vegas metropolitan area and Las Vegas Strip. ... This article is about the U.S. State of Nevada. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... Contemporary R&B is a music genre of American popular music, the current iteration of the genre that began in the 1940s as rhythm and blues music. ... Hip hop soul is the second major subgenre of contemporary R&B. The term generally describes a style of music that blends soulful R&B singing and raw hip hop production. ... In the music industry, a record label can be a brand and a trademark associated with the marketing of music recordings and music videos. ... Biv 10 Records was founded by Bell Biv DeVoe/New Edition member Michael Bivins, and was under the distribution of Motown Records. ... Motown Records, also known as Tamla-Motown outside of the United States, is a record label originally based out of Detroit, Michigan (Motor City, hence mo(tor)town), from where it achieved widespread international success. ... Missy Elliott on the cover of her album Missy Elliott (born Melissa Arnette Elliott on July 1, 1971 in Portsmouth, Virginia), formerly known as Missy Misdemeanor Elliott, is the first female hip hop superstar, known for a long series of hits including The Rain, Shes A Bitch, Get Ur... Look up Subway in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... Michael Lamone Bivins (born August 10, 1968 in Boston, Massachusetts) is the founder and member of the R&B group New Edition and the hip hop group BellBivDeVoe. ... The name Sinbad when used alone refers to more than one personage, place, or thing. ... North American area code 702 is a state of Nevada telephone area code which encompasses the metropolitan Las Vegas area and most of Clark County. ... For further information, see Las Vegas metropolitan area and Las Vegas Strip. ... In the United States, the Recording Industry Association of America awards certification based on the number of albums and singles sold through retail and other ancillary markets. ... Contemporary R&B is a music genre of American popular music, the current iteration of the genre that began in the 1940s as rhythm and blues music. ... Trio is generally used in any of the following ways: Three musicians playing the same or different musical instrument. ... For other uses, see Quartet (disambiguation). ... is the 153rd day of the year (154th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1980 (MCMLXXX) was a leap year starting on Tuesday (link displays the 1980 Gregorian calendar). ... is the 153rd day of the year (154th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1980 (MCMLXXX) was a leap year starting on Tuesday (link displays the 1980 Gregorian calendar). ... is the 110th day of the year (111th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 2008 (MMVIII) is the current year, a leap year that started on Tuesday of the Anno Domini (or common era), in accordance to the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 161st day of the year (162nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1978 (MCMLXXVIII) was a common year starting on Sunday (link displays the 1978 Gregorian calendar). ... is the 67th day of the year (68th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1978 (MCMLXXVIII) was a common year starting on Sunday (link displays the 1978 Gregorian calendar). ...

Main article: Members of 702

History

Beginnings

In Nevada, sisters LeMisha and Irish Grinstead, and their friend Kameelah Williams, were students at a Las Vegas school. Whenever a big boxing match was in town, the Grinstead sisters would hang out in the lobby of Caesars Palace and show off their vocal skills for all who would listen in the hopes that someone in the music industry would pass by. After many of these appearances, LeMisha, Irish, and her twin Orish, were losing hope, until one day, actor/comedian Sinbad, happened to walk by. Though not a music producer, he recognized how talented the Grinsteads were and 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. "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, the sisters happened to see Michael Bivins (formerly of New Edition and Bell Biv DeVoe) passing by and persuaded him to listen. He later said that he thought he had found his own version of the Supremes. With the crowd that had gathered egging him on, Bivins agreed to work with the talented girls. After 702 made their recorded debut on Subway's hit single "This Lil' Game We Play"(Originally, there were 4 members: sisters Irish, LeMisha, Irish's twin sister Orish & their cousin Amelia), Orish Grinstead dropped out of the group and was replaced by LeMisha and Irish's good friend Kameelah Williams, while Bivins continued to work with different producers and songwriters to get the right feel for their first album. The new group was christened "702," which is Las Vegas' area code. Caesars Palace is a luxury hotel and casino located on the Las Vegas Strip in Paradise, Nevada, an unincorporated township in the Las Vegas metropolitan area. ... David Adkins (born November 10[1] or November 18,[2] 1956), better known by the stage name Sinbad, is an African-American stand-up comedian and actor. ... This article is about the state capital of Georgia. ... For other uses, see Music (disambiguation). ... Michael Lamone Bivins (born August 10, 1968 in Boston, Massachusetts) is the founder and member of the R&B group New Edition and the hip hop group BellBivDeVoe. ... New Edition is an American R&B/Pop group formed in Boston, Massachusetts in 1980, that was most popular during the 1980s. ... Bell Biv DeVoe was a successful splinter group of New Edition that consisted of three previous members, Ricky Bell (also known as Slick), Michael Bivins (also known as Biv), and Ronnie DeVoe (also known as R.D.). // Bell Biv DeVoe began to take shape in the late 80s, but not...

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 (see below) in 1997. Sadly, 702 hasn't won any other award since (see below). 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 two teenager sitcoms Sister, Sister and Moesha. The first studio album by 702. ... Top Heatseekers is a weekly albums chart introduced by Billboard in 1993 whose purpose is to highlight sales by new and developing musical recording artists. ... Missy Elliott (born Melissa Arnette Elliott July 1, 1971 in Portsmouth, Virginia), is a five-time Grammy Award-winning American rapper, singer, songwriter, and record producer. ... This article is about the TV channel. ... Cousin Skeeter Logo Cousin Skeeter is a comedy television show which ran on Nickelodeon from 1998 to 2003. ... Good Burger is a 1997 comedy film from Paramount Pictures thats directed by Adrienne Bailon and starring Arnold & Gerald from Hey Arnold!, Sinbad, Shar Jackson, Abe Vigoda, and Jan Schweiterman. ... Nickelodeon may refer to: Nickelodeon movie theater, an early 20th century form of small, neighborhood movie theaters Nickelodeon (film), a 1976 film directed by Peter Bogdanovich Nickelodeon (TV channel), a cable TV network whose demographic is primarily children and pre-teens in the United States. ... All That was an American live-action, sketch comedy-variety show that aired on the Nickelodeon cable television network featuring short comedic sketches and weekly musical guests. ... Billboard can refer to: Billboard magazine Billboard (advertising) Billboard antenna In 3D computer graphics, to billboard is to rotate an object so that it faces the viewer. ... Soul Train is a long-running music-related syndicated television program. ... New Edition is an American R&B/Pop group formed in Boston, Massachusetts in 1980, that was most popular during the 1980s. ... Keith Crier (born July 22, 1961 in Harlem, New York), better known as Keith Sweat, is an American R&B/soul, singer-songwriter, record producer and a major contributor to the New jack swing era. ... BLACKstreet is an American R&B group founded in 1992 by Teddy Riley, a New Jack Swing pioneer known for his work as a member of Guy. ... New Edition is an American R&B/Pop group formed in Boston, Massachusetts in 1980, that was most popular during the 1980s. ... Supa Dupa Fly is the 1997 debut hip hop/R&B album by Missy Misedemanor Elliott. ... “British Hit Singles” redirects here. ... Trevor Smith (born on May 20, 1972), better known as Busta Rhymes, is an American hip hop musician and actor. ... Rampage, also known as Rampage the last Boy Scout is an American rapper who is a member of the Flipmode Squad. ... This article is about alleged secretive government departments. ... Sister, Sister is an American television sitcom about twin girls (Tia and Tamera Mowry), separated and adopted at birth, who one day come face-to-face after 14 years apart. ... Moesha is also the title of a song by former Phish guitarist Trey Anastasio, frequently performed by his first solo band. ...

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 achieved a peak position of #4 on The Billboard Hot 100. The single spent 2 months on the top 20 chart, became nominated for the song of the year, and gained them a 1999 Soul Train Lady Of Soul Award nomination for Best R&B/Soul Single - Group, Band or Duo. The album reached #7 of the top-ten on Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums, earned a 2000 Soul Train Lady Of Soul Award nomination for Best R&B/Soul Album Of The Year - Group, Band or Duo, 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. On June 18th, 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 had made a cameo in the 1999 ABC-TV movie "Double Platinum" (along with Brandy and Diana Ross). 702 also signed a deal with Wilhelmina Models. Two other singles from the album, "You Don't Know" and "Gotta Leave" failed to make The Billboard Hot 100, but made the Billboard's Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks. "Gotta Leave", guest-starring and produced by Missy Elliott also made the Rhythmic Top 40. Their self-titled sophomore album 702 reached the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums making #7 and as the first album it became their second Platinum album. ... Missy Elliott (born Melissa Arnette Elliott July 1, 1971 in Portsmouth, Virginia), is a five-time Grammy Award-winning American rapper, singer, songwriter, and record producer. ... “Hot 100” redirects here. ... The Womens National Basketball Association (WNBA) is an organization governing a professional basketball league for women in the United States. ... The American Broadcasting Company (ABC) is an American television network. ... This article is about the telefilm. ... Brandy Rayana Norwood (born February 11, 1979), known professionally as Brandy, is an American R&B singer-songwriter, record producer, actress, and film producer. ... For the author-illustrator, see Diana Ross (author). ... Wilhelmina Models is a modeling agency founded in 1967 by the supermodel Wilhelmina (Wilhelmina Cooper) in Manhattan. ... “Hot 100” redirects here. ... Missy Elliott (born Melissa Arnette Elliott July 1, 1971 in Portsmouth, Virginia), is a five-time Grammy Award-winning American rapper, singer, songwriter, and record producer. ... For another definition see rhythmic and CHR Rhythmic Top 40 is a contemporary hit music genre where the music, direction and makeup of the audience differ from the more mainstream Top 40 format. ...

2000-2002: 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 Faith Evans' album, Faithfully. She also sang backup for Missy Elliott on her Miss E...So Addictive third single "Take Away". Faith Renée Evans (born June 10, 1973) is a Grammy Award-winning American R&B singer, songwriter and producer. ... Faithfully is the third album by American R&B and Soul singer Faith Evans. ... Missy Elliott (born Melissa Arnette Elliott July 1, 1971 in Portsmouth, Virginia), is a five-time Grammy Award-winning American rapper, singer, songwriter, and record producer. ... Miss E...So Addictive is a 2001 hip hop/R&B album by Missy Misedemanor Elliott. ...

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. In the video you can see Irish and Cree sharing lead vocals. "Pootie Tangin" failed to make any charts but earned them a 2002 Soul Train Lady Of Soul Award nomination (see below). Pootie Tang is a 2001 cult comedy film, directed by Louis C.K.. The film was adapted from a comedy sketch which first appeared on The Chris Rock Show. ...

2002-2003: Return to music

Main article: Star (702 album)

Kameelah reunited with 702 once again to record their third album. However, promotion for this album was poor and resulted in a flop. After the less-than-successful album, the girls decided to go their separate ways. Irish made her movie acting debut in the 2004 flim The Brewster Project as "Alicia". .

2003-present

Although their album failed, it did earn them two Soul Train Lady of Soul Award nominations later in 2003 (see below). Irish Grinstead become the only member to act. She co-starred in The Brewster Project in early 2004.

Kameelah once again left the group again to follow her solo career. It is said that Irish, former member Orish and Lemisha will be working on a new album. Orish Grinstead died of kidney failure on Sunday April 20, 2008 aged 27. The singer was also suffering from several other medical issues, including cancer. According to sources close to Grinstead, she had been ill for quite some time, and her death was not a surprise.^[1] is the 110th day of the year (111th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 2008 (MMVIII) is the current year, a leap year that started on Tuesday of the Anno Domini (or common era), in accordance to the Gregorian calendar. ...

Discography

Main article: 702 discography

• 1996: No Doubt
• 1999: 702
• 2003: Star
• 2008: TBA

The discography of the R&B group 702. ... The first studio album by 702. ... Their self-titled sophomore album 702 reached the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums making #7 and as the first album it became their second Platinum album. ...

Awards

American Music Awards The American Music Awards show is one of four annual major American music awards shows (the others being the Billboard Music Awards, the Grammy Awards, and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony). ...

BET Awards The BET Awards were established in 2001 by the Black Entertainment Television network to celebrate African Americans and other minorities in music, acting, shooting, sports, and other fields of entertainment over the past year. ...

Soul Train Lady Of Soul Awards

External links

• MTV.com Artist Page: 702
• BET.com News & Interview : 702
• Yahoo! Launch: 702
• 702 (band) at Discogs