Irish Grinstead, a member of the girl group 702 known for hit songs like “Where My Girls At,” has died, her sister announced Saturday. She was 43 years old.
Grinstead’s sister and band member Lemisha Grinstead announced the news.
in an Instagram post.
“It is with great sadness that I must announce that my beautiful sister and friend passed away this evening,” she wrote. “She fought a long battle and she is finally at peace. This girl was as bright as the stars! She was not only beautiful on the outside, but also on the inside. Sharing the stage with her was a joy that I will cherish for the rest of my life! We, the family, ask for prayers and privacy as we mourn an exceptional loss to our family.
Although the cause of death was not given, the band announced in December that Irish was taking “medical leave due to serious medical issues.”
The group, which included sisters Grinstead and Kameelah Williams, took their name from the area code of their hometown, Las Vegas.
They released their first album, Without a doubt, in 1996, which featured singles including “Steelo”, which was also used as the theme song for the Nickelodeon television series. Cousin Skeeter. Three years later, they released their second album, 702which featured the hit song “Where My Girls At.”
With Williams temporarily replaced by Cree La’More, they released their single “Pootie Tangin'” on the Chris Rock film soundtrack. Pootie Tang, then Williams returned to the group shortly after. Another album, Starfollowed, which featured the single “I Still Love You.”
The group took an 11-year hiatus in 2006. In 2021, the Grinstead sisters appeared in the reality television series. BET presents: The Encore, which followed nine former girl group members as they attempted to form a supergroup and create an album in 30 days.
Over the course of their career, 702 has been nominated for an American Music Award, a BET Award, and several Soul Train Lady of Soul Awards, winning Best R&B/Soul Album of the Year by a Group, Group, or Duo For Without a doubt.