On Saturday, Irish Grinstead, a vocalist who was most known for her work with the R&B female group 702 and their famous song “Where My Girls At,” passed away. Her age was 43.
LeMisha Grinstead, Grinstead’s sister and also a member of the 702 group, shared the sad news of her sister’s passing on social media.
“It is with great sadness that I have to let you know that my beautiful sister and friend has passed away this evening,” she said in the email to her family and friends. “It has been a hard fight for her, but she has now arrived at a place of serenity.
That young lady shone with the brilliance of the stars! She was beautiful on the inside and stunning on the outer.
The pleasure of performing beside her is one that I will never forget and will always look back on fondly.
As a family, we ask for prayers and for our privacy to be respected during this time of mourning for a significant loss to our family.
The R&B quartet announced in December that Irish would be taking “a medical leave of absence due to serious medical issues,” but they did not specify the cause of death at the time.
Grinstead came into this world on June 2, 1980. Her twin sister Orish, who was similar to her, passed away in 2008 at 27 due to renal disease.
The girl group 702, consisting of the Grinstead sisters and Kameelah Williams, got their name from the area code of Las Vegas, where they grew up.
The band issued their first studio album, “No Doubt,” 1996. On the track “Steelo,” which was featured on the album, Missy Elliott appeared as a special guest. 1999 saw the release of the band’s second studio album, “702,” including the smash hit single “Where My Girls At.”
Following the release of their fifth and last studio album, “Star,” in 2003, the band split in 2006 and went on an 11-year break. The Grinstead sisters appeared in the reality series “BET Presents The Encore” in 2021.
This series comprises ten episodes and follows nine former members of R&B female groups as they try to establish a supergroup and produce an album in thirty days.
The album “No Doubt” by 702 earned the group a nomination for an American Music Award, a BET Award, and multiple Soul Train Lady of Soul Awards.
In addition, the group took home the award for the most excellent R&B/soul album of the year by a group, band, or duo in 1997.
In a statement on his social media account, Williams paid respect to Grinstead by stating, “Devastated and saddened. Writing this piece was challenging since I don’t believe anything true.
There is a lot that I want to say, but there is no way that I can express something that my heart hasn’t wholly embraced. It isn’t easy to accept that this is taking place.
I am sure that you are now feeling better and holding your twin sister Orish, which makes me smile since I know how much you have missed your sister.
Since you and I have been friends since we were children and have had many happy, sad, and joyful experiences together, including everything in between, I can’t accept that this is true.
