Thomas Iannucci, (often stylized in all-lowercase), is a three-time NàHà Âkà « Hanohano award-winning rapper, writer, and poet from KauaâÂÂi, Hawaii. Iannucci has been the recipient of several notable awards, including the NàHà Âkà « Hanohano Awards for Best Alternative Album in 2015 (for his work with Streetlight Cadence), Best Hip Hop Album in 2018 and 2020, as well as the Best Hip Hop Song (Finalist) in the 2016 National John Lennon Songwriting Contest. Iannucci was also a member of the Rapzilla Freshman Class of 2020, wherein he won the popular vote portion of the process. Iannucci is an outspoken advocate for social issues within Hawaii, and was named by KHON2 News as part of the next generation of rappers pushing the limits of Hawaii Hip Hop. He is also a short story writer, making his fiction debut in 2023 when his piece âÂÂHÃÂâÂÂule Hauâ was published in New Zealand-based literary journal TakahàMagazine. He has since had many short stories published, in places like Bamboo Ridge, HawaiiâÂÂs most prestigious literary journal, and the Hawaii Review of Books. In 2024, noted Hawaii author Chris McKinney named iannucci alongside Megan Kamalei Kakimoto and Joseph Han as one of three âÂÂyoung HawaiâÂÂi authors to watchâ during an interview at the Hawaii Book & Music Festival, HawaiiâÂÂs biggest literary event of the year.
Iannucci has won or been nominated for several major awards, including the John Lennon Songwriting Contest, the International Songwriting Contest, and the SongDoor Songwriting Contest. In 2018, he won the NàHà Âkà « Hanohano Award for Best Hip Hop Album for his album "Makana." In 2020, he was named a Rapzilla Freshman after winning the popular vote. His second album, âÂÂKuleana,â also won the Hà Âkà « for Hip Hop Album of the Year at the 2020 NàHà Âkà « Hanohano Awards. In 2022, Iannucci's album âÂÂThe Illyindé Tapeâ was also nominated for a Hà Âkà «.<sup>https://www.instagram.com/p/Cc4h5HQrCQ5/</sup>
Iannucci began rapping in high school, under the name Illtalian. In 2018, Iannucci dropped the name Illtalian in favor of his birth name. Iannucci currently resides on the island of Kaua'i, and is a graduate of Waimea High School and the University of Hawaii at Manoa, where he received his Bachelor in American History.