Manami has been played on NTS shows including NTS RUSH, with Yellow Chlorophyll first played on 11 May 2022.

In the middle of 2008, one of the top US music producers, PHARRELL WILLIAMS(The Neptunes) and his close friend NIGO®, the producer of the street clothing brand A BATHING APE® and is also a member of TERIYAKI BOYZ® (theme song from the film “Fast and the Furious Tokyo Drift”) came together to hold an audition STAR BAPE® SEARCH to seek a female HIPHOP/R&B artist.

The audition was aimed at locating a DIVA who can make an impact in the music industry not only in the Far East but globally. The grand winner was to release a record with a major label, be fully produced and backed by PHARRELL WILLIAMS(The Neptunes) and NIGO®. The audition attracted entries from all over the Asian countries in hope for this dream opportunity.

On 13th August STAR BAPE® SEARCH FINAL STAGE was held at UNIT Daikanyama, Japan and the winner was chosen, Manami (born October 6, 1986).

昨年、「A BATHING APE®」プロデューサーであり、RIP SLYMEのILMARIとRYO-Z、m-flo のVERBAL、WISEと共にTERIYAKI BOYZ®のメンバーでもあるNIGO®が盟友であり全米No.1音楽プロデューサーであるPHARRELL WILLIAMS(The Neptunes)の発案に意気投合し、女性HIPHOP/R&B アーティスト・オーディション「STAR BAPE® SEARCH（スター・ベイプ・サーチ）」が行われた。

『日本、アジア、そして世界で活躍できるDIVA(歌姫)』を基準にアーティストを選出し、選ばれたアーティストは、PHARRELL WILLIAMS(The Neptunes)とNIGO®の全面プロデュースで(B)APE SOUNDS™からデビュー！！という触れ込みに全国のシンガー志望の女性の応募が殺到。

そして同年8月13日に代官山UNITにて行われた「STAR BAPE® SEARCH FINAL STAGE」の舞台で栄光のWINNERに輝いたのが、Manamiこと、中村麻奈未なのである！