1993–1996: Early beginnings and Sweeter than Sugar LeMisha Grinstead wanted to pursue a music career and with the support of her parents, she began performing in local competitions and churches. After performing in the lobby of
Caesars Palace, she attracted the attention of actor/comedian
Sinbad. Sinbad approached her parents with an opportunity in music, her parents encouraged their twin daughters Irish and Orish to perform alongside their sister LeMisha as a trio. Sinbad entered the group into a music competition in
Atlanta under the group name Sweeter than Sugar. Although they finished second in the competition,
Michael Bivins agreed to work with the group. They also added singer Amelia Cruz to the lineup. After signing the group to his record label
Biv 10 Records, Bivins renamed the group "702", after the area code for Las Vegas. LeMisha, who sang lead vocals on the song, was the only one to go on tour with Subway in 1995. In 1995, 702 began recording their first album. During the recording of the album, Bivins dismissed Orish Grinstead and Amelia Cruz from the group because of his lack of support in their vocal abilities. They were replaced by classmates Meelah Williams (born Kameelah Williams) and
Tiffany Villarreal. Six months after joining the group, Villarreal left the group during the recording of the first album, leaving 702 to continue as a trio.
1996–1998: Rise to fame 702 released their first album
No Doubt in October 1996, which peaked at number eighty-two on the
Billboard 200 and number twenty-four on the
Billboard Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart. It managed to sell over half of a million copies in the United States, earning a gold certification by the
Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). A remix of "Steelo" became the theme song to the
Nickelodeon television show
Cousin Skeeter in 1998. In the same year, 702 made cameo appearances in the sitcoms
Sister, Sister and
Moesha. In March 1998,
Missy Elliott released a single "
Beep Me 911" which featured 702. The song charted in the top twenty on the
UK Singles chart.
1999–2002: Breakthrough and lineup changes In early 1999, the group performed the national anthem for the
Women's National Basketball Association. In June 1999, they released their
self-titled second album, which peaked in the top forty on the Billboard charts and became certified platinum. During the tour, LeMisha went on a two-month maternity leave and later gave birth to her son
Tony Fields II on June 18, 1999. During her hiatus, Orish briefly re-joined the group. In 2001, Williams departed from the group and signed a management deal with Todd Russaw's Pedigree MGI Management. During that time, she sang backup and wrote three songs for
Faith Evans' album
Faithfully. She also sang backup for
Missy Elliott's song "
Take Away", the third single from her 2001 album
Miss E...So Addictive. Cree Lemore replaced Williams in the group. Shortly after the release of the single, Lemore departed from the group and Williams rejoined the group. Irish also pursued a career in accounting. In 2006, the original lineup of 702 (LeMisha, Irish, and Orish Grinstead) appeared on E Sharp's album
E Sharp presents Vol. I. In 2007, LeMisha released a song titled "What I Got" on the E Sharp's second album
E Sharp Presents Vol. II. On April 20, 2008, original member Orish Grinstead died from autoimmune hepatitis. In 2014, Williams joined the season three cast of reality television show
R&B Divas: Atlanta to bring awareness to children born with
autism.
2017–present: Reunion In November 2017, the group reformed and attended the
2017 Soul Train Music Awards. Also in 2018, the group began touring together for the first time in fifteen years. In May 2021, Irish and LeMisha Grinstead were among the lineup of cast members for the
BET Network reality television show BET Presents: The Encore. On December 15, 2022, it was announced on the group's Instagram page that Irish Grinstead would be taking a medical leave from the group to address serious health concerns. In May 2023, the group performed "Where My Girls At?" in tribute to
Missy Elliott at the Black Music Honors. On September 16, 2023, Irish Grinstead died after a long battle with an undisclosed illness. In 2024, 702 appeared as special guest on "
The Queens of R&B Tour". ==Artistry==