chanmina

South Korean-Japanese rapper Mina Otomani, known professionally as Chanmina, draws on her considerable skill to move fluidly between hip-hop tracks and more pop-focused material. Born in South Korea in 1998, she experienced a peripatetic childhood as her family relocated repeatedly across Korea, Japan, and the United States. Her mother steered her toward ballet and violin lessons during those years. She had planned to return to Korea and pursue a career as a K-pop singer until her friend and fellow rapper Messhi convinced her to remain in Japan and focus on rapping instead. Her initial breakthrough arrived in 2016 when she competed in the nationally televised high-school rap contest Bazooka!!! Kōkōsei Rap Senshūken. The debut album Miseinen appeared the next year. Following her signing with Warner Music Japan, she released two additional full-length projects: Never Grow Up in 2019 and Harenchi in 2021.