blessed us with “Star” and “I Still Love You”. It was really a good record. But you know how it goes though. When you hit that budget, the label is like OK it’s a wrap. I guess it was maybe a financial thing. It saddened me, but hey, life goes on.
Urban Grandstand Digital: Looking at the history of girl groups, when they part or go their separate ways, there’s always one person who catches the fire and storm. They get the blame. Why do you think it was directed to you? Not even that it was true, but the word was always that the group is splitting because you wanted to go solo. Why does that come back to you?
Meelah: Well in the history of groups period, you’ll find that whomever the lead singer is, they catch that flack. I think that’s inevitable that the front person, if you will, catches that. It’s sad and unfortunate, because there’s always so much more. If people would take the time to think about the breakdown of 702, I came into the picture with 702 after it was already formed. They were a family group. Here comes this girl out of nowhere, and all of a sudden she’s designated the lead singer. I don’t even know if that was originally the plan, but song after song after song…I was doing lead. There were songs that were done before I came along, and all of a sudden my voice was put in place of someone else, so naturally, that in itself is going to create tension and animosity. Then voila, I’m suddenly the lead singer. Then it’s like, the demise of 702 is her fault because she wants to be solo, and that’s just not the case. I was put into a family group and I went through a lot of stuff, but I’ve taken the high road all these years, and chose to continue to be political about it. People don’t know the real reason why 702 only had three albums. I don’t dwell on the past. I’m grateful for now, and I’m grateful I still have an opportunity to use my gift. So that’s what I’m doing.
Urban Grandstand Digital: I think we all appreciate you taking the high road, and we will talk about that very road when we get around to R&B Divas Atlanta
Meelah: (laughing)
Urban Grandstand Digital: But I hope at some point, we do get that full story about 702, just because I follow…
Meelah: I’ve talked about it, and I don’t want to throw anybody under the bus, but to clear my name, and so people understand that Meelah didn’t leave the group to go solo, I do at times go into it. At the end of the day it doesn’t matter though because people are going to think what they want to think anyway.
Urban Grandstand Digital: Exactly
Meelah: We had two successful albums, and the third one could have been just as big. It didn’t happen that way. It’s either third time’s the charm, or three strikes and you’re out. That album was the third strike for me, and I’m just like, hey, I get to do it all over again by myself. The girls aren’t pursuing music anymore. I’m still pursuing music, and I’m just grateful that I’m able to do so.
Urban Grandstand Digital: Now moving beyond all of that, I remember going to a Faith Evans show, and you were doing backup. What brought that experience on?
Meelah: At the time, we were under the same management umbrella, and it was just like, we don’t want to give this check to somebody else. Why not keep it in the family. Hey, why not! That’s how that started. It’s still music, I’m still singing and dancing, and I’m getting paid.
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