In Las Vegas, sisters LeMisha and Irish Grinstead, and their friend Kameelah Williams, were students at the Las Vegas Academy of Performing Arts. Irish, her twin sister Orish, and LeMisha occasionally sang in the lobby of Caesars Palace where they were discovered by actor/comedian Sinbad. He visited their home in order to convince their parents to send the trio to Atlanta for a convention and music competition. Though the girls missed the deadline for entry, Sinbad used his name to get them in.[1] "Sweeta than Suga," as they were then called (Sinbad suggested the name), came in second in the competition. As the convention was nearing a close, they met Michael Bivins (of New Edition and Bell Biv DeVoe) who agreed to work with the sisters. They were briefly joined by their cousin Amelia Childs. After they made their recorded debut on Subway's hit single "This Lil' Game We Play", Amelia dropped out of the group[1] and was replaced by Kameelah Williams. After recording a few demos as a quartet including "Steelo", and "Get It Together", Orish decided to leave the group (even though her vocals appear on the first album). Bivins continued to work with different producers and songwriters to get the right feel for their first album. The reconfigured group was christened "702," which is Las Vegas' area code, a name which bivens suggested. [1]
702 was discovered by Michael Bivins of New Edition and made their recorded debut on Subway's hit single "This Lil' Game We Play". Missy Elliott wrote and co-produced four songs from their first album, No Doubt, including "Steelo". The remix of "Steelo" was the first major solo production credit for Elliott's main collaborator Timbaland. "Steelo" was later used, with altered lyrics, as the theme song to the Nickelodeon television show Cousin Skeeter.
Elliott crafted two more songs for 702, their second album, the top 5 hit "Where My Girls At" and "You Don't Know". No Doubt won a Lady Of Soul Soul Train Award for "Best R&B/Soul or Rap Album Of The Year by A Group Band Or Duo". The group split after the poor sales of their album 'Star' and lack of promotion from Motown.
Kameelah now sings backup for the likes of Faith Evans and Macy Gray. She has been working on her solo project for a while, releasing a number of singles including the duet with Musiq Soulchild “Give It to You” and her recent release “Think About Me”. Irish was the only group member to act, as she co-starred in The Brewster Project in early 2004.
Orish, twin sister of Irish, died of kidney failure on Sunday April 20, 2008 at age 27. She was part of the original lineup (pre-No Doubt) and filled in for Misha during her pregnancy.
Better Day
702 Lyrics
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Livin' in a ghetto world
Against the world alone
Problems in her ordinary life
Make you want to run and hide
She can never get it right
Like the seasons when they change
Surrounded by pain and empty dreams
So I pray (I'm praying for a better day)
There's gotta be a better day
New day
Gotta be a better way
I'm tryin' to find a better way
See many times she didn't have a dime
When the bills would multiply
Contemplated suicide
And momma never had that special touch
Her daddy touched her way too much
Finally she had enough
Like the seasons when they change
Nothing ever stays the same
Surrounded by pain and empty dreams
And she's so alone
Living in the ghetto
I'm praying for a better day
I'm tryna find a better place
Baby don't you cry
Hush little baby
Please don't you cry
Baby there's no need to cry
Just reach for the sky
Don't worry baby
You'll be alright
So learn to smile
Kiss your tears goodbye
She was a little ghetto child (I'm praying for a better day)
And then she turned her life around
Another day (I'm tryna find a better way)
And I gotta find another way
Baby don't you cry
Dry your eyes
You can spread your wings and learn to fly, high, high
(For a better day)
Baby dry your eyes (Oh a better day)
You can spread your wing and learn to fly, high, so high
Baby don't you cry (I'm praying for a better day)
You can spread your wings and learn to fly, high, high
(Her mother didn't have that touch, no, and daddy touch her way too much)
Baby dry your eyes
You can spread your wings and learn to fly, high, so high
Said she gotta get outta the ghetto, oh yes
The lyrics to 702's song "Better Day" are about a young girl living in difficult circumstances in the ghetto. She has faced numerous challenges in her life and is struggling to find her way out of the cycle of pain and despair. She has been let down by those closest to her and has contemplated suicide. The song is essentially an encouragement to the young girl to keep striving for a better life and to not give up on hope.
The lyrics talk about the changing seasons and how nothing ever stays the same. This is a metaphor for the girl's life, which has been filled with pain and empty dreams. However, in the chorus, we hear the singer praying for a better day and trying to find a better way. The song encourages the girl to keep reaching for the sky and not to worry because she will be alright. The message is one of hope and perseverance in the face of difficult life circumstances.
Line by Line Meaning
Here's the story bout a ghetto girl
The song is about a girl who grew up in a ghetto.
Livin' in a ghetto world
The girl's life is limited by the poverty and violence in the ghetto.
Against the world alone
The girl has nobody to turn to for help.
Problems in her ordinary life
The girl faces everyday struggles that are difficult to overcome.
Make you want to run and hide
The girl's problems are so overwhelming that they feel impossible to deal with.
She can never get it right
The girl feels like she fails at everything she tries to do.
Like the seasons when they change
The girl's life is constantly in flux and nothing ever remains the same.
Nothing ever stays the same
The girl's life is constantly changing and full of uncertainty.
Surrounded by pain and empty dreams
The girl's life is full of suffering and she sees no hope for the future.
So I pray (I'm praying for a better day)
The girl turns to prayer as a source of hope and strength.
There's gotta be a better day
The girl believes that there is hope for a better future.
New day
The girl sees each day as an opportunity for change and growth.
Gotta be a better way
The girl is determined to find a better path for her life.
I'm tryin' to find a better way
The girl is actively searching for a way to improve her life.
See many times she didn't have a dime
The girl was often broke and struggling to make ends meet.
When the bills would multiply
The girl struggled to pay her bills, which only got worse over time.
Contemplated suicide
The girl was so overwhelmed that she considered ending her own life.
And momma never had that special touch
The girl's mother was not able to provide her with the love and care she needed.
Her daddy touched her way too much
The girl was sexually abused by her father.
Finally she had enough
The girl reached her breaking point and decided to take action to change her life.
And she's so alone
The girl is isolated and has nobody to rely on.
Living in the ghetto
The girl is trapped in a life of poverty and violence.
Hush little baby
The song addresses the girl as a child who needs care and comfort.
Please don't you cry
The song reassures the girl that everything will be okay.
Just reach for the sky
The song encourages the girl to dream big and aim high.
Don't worry baby
The song reassures the girl that everything will be okay.
You'll be alright
The song reassures the girl that everything will be okay.
So learn to smile
The song encourages the girl to find happiness and joy in life.
Kiss your tears goodbye
The song encourages the girl to let go of her pain and sadness.
She was a little ghetto child (I'm praying for a better day)
The girl started life in the ghetto and faced many obstacles.
And then she turned her life around
The girl was able to overcome her struggles and improve her life.
Dry your eyes
The song reassures the girl that everything will be okay.
You can spread your wings and learn to fly, high, high
The song encourages the girl to be ambitious and follow her dreams.
(For a better day)
The song is focused on helping the girl find hope and inspiration for the future.
Said she gotta get outta the ghetto, oh yes
The song emphasizes the importance of leaving the ghetto behind to improve one's life.
Lyrics © DistroKid, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: ANTHONY BEST, FAITH RENEE EVANS, LEISHA GRINSTEAD, ATIBA NEWSOME, RASHEEM SHARRIEF PUGH, KAMEELAH WILLIAMS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind