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.
Reality
702 Lyrics
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What we go through
So I'm singin' this song for you
Ain't got no time to play around
It ain't about just hangin' out
I got so much more to do
It ain't worth bein' with you
Some people think they wanna live this life
They see the fame but they don't know the price
It ain't that easy
I need you to feel me
Reality's of a star
I'm staying focused on myself, hey
Ain't gotta please nobody else, uh
Got to do what's best for me
That's the way it has to be, baby
Some people think they wanna live this life
They see the fame but they don't know the price
It ain't that easy
I need you to feel me
Reality's of a star
You don't know
What we go through
So I'm singin' this song for you
Some people think they wanna live this life
They see the fame but they don't know the price
It ain't that easy
I need you to feel me
Reality's of a star
The lyrics of 702’s song Reality describe the challenges of being a star and the misconceptions that people have about the lifestyle. The opening lines of the song, “you don’t know what we go through, so I’m singing this song for you,” emphasize the fact that outsiders often have a skewed perception of what it means to be a celebrity. The following lines discuss the importance of staying focused on oneself and not worrying about pleasing others. The phrase “ain’t got no time to play around” suggests that the life of a star can be demanding and requires a lot of dedication.
The chorus emphasizes the misconception that many people have about the lifestyle. The fame and glamour that come with being a star may seem appealing to some, but they do not understand the sacrifices that are required. The line “they see the fame but they don’t know the price” highlights this misunderstanding.
The song’s overall message is that being a star comes with its own set of challenges and realities, and it is not as easy as it may seem from the outside. The lyrics serve as a reminder that individuals should not make assumptions about what a person’s life is like based on what they see on the surface.
Line by Line Meaning
You don't know
You are unaware of the experiences that we encounter
What we go through
The challenges that we face in our daily lives
So I'm singin' this song for you
This song is to give you a glimpse of our reality
Ain't got no time to play around
I do not have time for leisure activities
It ain't about just hangin' out
This is not just about socializing
I got so much more to do
There are many tasks that require my attention
It ain't worth bein' with you
Being together is not worth the effort
Some people think they wanna live this life
There are individuals who desire to live this lifestyle
They see the fame but they don't know the price
They merely see the popularity, but not the cost
It ain't that easy
It is not a simple task
I need you to feel me
Understand and empathize with my situation
Reality's of a star
The truth about being a celebrity
I'm staying focused on myself, hey
I am concentrating on my well-being
Ain't gotta please nobody else, uh
I do not have to satisfy other people's expectations
Got to do what's best for me
I have to prioritize my own needs
That's the way it has to be, baby
That is how it must be
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: ANTHONY WALKER, TALIB KWELI, MARIO WINANS, MICHAEL JONES, MECHALIE JAMISON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind