Irish Grinstead, best known as a member of girl group 702, has died at the age of 43
Her sister Lemisha Grinstead and fellow group member announced her death via Instagram.
“It is with great sadness that I have to let you know that my beautiful sister and friend has passed away this evening,” she wrote. “She has had a long battle and she is finally at peace,” Lemisha continued.
“We, the family ask for prayers and respect for our privacy as we grieve an outstanding loss to our family,”
Lemisha did not share the cause of death but on 702’s official Instagram account, it was annouced that Irish would be taking a step back due to a “serious medical issue.”
About 702
The group’s name, 702, is named after the area code of their hometown, Las Vegas, Nevada. The group consisted of three members:
Kameelah Williams: She was the lead vocalist of the group and often the most recognizable member. Kameelah’s powerful and soulful voice was a defining characteristic of 702’s music.
Irish Grinstead: Irish provided harmonious backing vocals and occasional lead vocals. She was known for her sweet and melodic voice.
LeMisha Grinstead: LeMisha, Irish’s sister, also contributed to the group’s harmonies and occasionally took lead vocals as well.
702’s career highlights include:
Debut Album “No Doubt” (1996): Their debut album, “No Doubt,” was released in 1996 and featured the hit single “Steelo,” which reached the top 40 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. The album also included tracks like “Get It Together” and “All I Want.”
Second Album “702” (1999): Their self-titled second album, “702,” was released in 1999 and included the hit singles “Where My Girls At?” and “You Don’t Know.” “Where My Girls At?” was particularly successful, reaching the top 10 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.
Collaborations: 702 collaborated with several notable artists during their career, including Missy Elliott and Pharrell Williams.
Breakup and Later Projects: After the release of their second album, the group went on a hiatus. They eventually disbanded in the early 2000s, with members pursuing solo careers and other projects.
Kameelah Williams, in particular, went on to collaborate with other artists and released her own solo music. Irish and LeMisha Grinstead also pursued individual projects.
702’s music was known for its smooth R&B sound and catchy melodies.
They made a significant impact on the R&B music scene in the late 1990s, and their hit songs continue to be enjoyed by fans of the genre.
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Irish May your beautiful soul Rest Peacefully in the arms of the Lord🕊️ A Multitude of prayers for the entire Grinstead family🙏🏾🕊️💔#702 pic.twitter.com/Vfqbwfzxqj
— Missy Elliott (@MissyElliott) September 17, 2023
and
Rest In Peace Irish Grinstead 🕊️🤍
Praying for her family & group members702 made a small cameo in Aaliyah’s music video ‘If Your Girl Only Knew’ in 1996. pic.twitter.com/ovzkbLEY1D
— AALIYAH LEGION (@AaliyahLegion) September 17, 2023
and
Irish Grinstead #RIP 🫶🏽✨ pic.twitter.com/ew8oWugYVo
— Carlos (@carlosjharris) September 17, 2023
and
RIP Irish Grinstead from #702 pic.twitter.com/TPFAk5K67R
— David Cu (@davidcu97) September 17, 2023
