702 Biography
A vocal R&B trio named after its Las Vegas, Nevada, USA home area code, 702 made their long-playing debut for Michael Bivins' Biv 10 Records label in 1996. Bivins first became acquainted with the group in 1991 after they improvised an audition piece for him at the music industry's Jack The Rapper convention. The original line-up comprised twin sisters Irish Grinstead (2 June 1980, USA) and Orish Grinstead (b. 2 June 1980, USA, d. 20 April 2008, Las Vegas, Nevada, USA), their older sister LeMisha Grinstead (b. 10 June 1978), and cousin Amelia Grinstead. The members were only aged between 11 and 13 when they took this momentous step. However, by the time they released their 1996 debut No Doubt the line-up had been reshuffled, with Irish and LeMisha Grinstead joined by new lead vocalist Kameelah Williams (b. 8 March 1978, USA). In the interim, the trio had sung on the 1995 hit "This Lil' Game We Play', by fellow Biv 10 recording artists, Subway. No Doubt made strong use of the trio's elegant harmonies and their varied musical influences, ranging from gospel to blues, jazz and hip-hop (the album featured four co-writes by the soon to be very famous female rapper Missy Elliott). 702"s first single, "Steelo", utilized a slang expression for "personal style and attitude", and made a strong impression on regional R&B stations. It was followed by a second single, "Get It Together", in December 1996.
The trio's second album, released in summer 1999, was premiered by the US number 4 single "Where My Girls At?'. The single featured the production skills of Elliott, but poised on the brink of great success the trio fell apart. Williams left to pursue a solo career and the Grinstead sisters recruited new vocalist Cree Lamore to record the theme to 2001"s Pootie Tang. They reunited with Williams to record a new studio album, Star, which was released in February 2003. The album was not a success and Williams left to resume a solo career.
Source: The Encyclopedia of Popular Music by Colin Larkin. Licensed from Muze.
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