Thomas Iannucci (often stylized in all-lowercase), is a three-time Nā Hōkū Hanohano award-winning rapper, writer, and poet from Kaua’i, Hawaii.[1] Iannucci has been the recipient of several notable awards,[2] including the Nā Hōkū Hanohano Awards for Best Alternative Album in 2015 (for his work with Streetlight Cadence),[3] Best Hip Hop Album in 2018[4] and 2020,[5] as well as the Best Hip Hop Song (Finalist) in the 2016 National John Lennon Songwriting Contest.[6] 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.[7] He is also an author, making his fiction debut in 2023 when his piece “Hā’ule Hau” was published in New Zealand-based literary journal Takahē Magazine.[8] He has since been published across Hawaii, in places like Honolulu (magazine), Bamboo Ridge (Hawaii's most prestigious literary journal),[9] and the Hawaii Review of Books, which named him a "rising Pidgin star" and a "serious writer of fiction and creative non-fiction."[10] He and his work have been featured, profiled, or quoted in various mainstream media outlets, including Vulture (website)/New York (magazine),[11] Deadline Hollywood,[12] Us Weekly,[13] Daily Mirror,[14] and Hot 97.[15]
Thomas Iannucci | |
|---|---|
 Iannucci in 2018 | |
| Background information | |
| Also known as | Illtalian |
| Born | |
| Origin | Kaua’i, Hawaii |
| Genres | Hip hop, conscious hip hop, boom bap, lo-fi |
| Occupations | Rapper, writer |
| Label | Ends of the Earth |
Early life
editIannucci began rapping in high school, under the name Illtalian.[2] In 2018, he dropped the name Illtalian in favor of his birth name.[16] 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.[2]
Awards and nominations
editIannucci has won or been nominated for several major awards, including the John Lennon Songwriting Contest, the International Songwriting Contest, and the SongDoor Songwriting Contest. Iannucci was also a member of the Rapzilla Freshman Class of 2020,[17] wherein he won the popular vote portion of the process.[18] In 2018, he won the Nā Hōkū 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, “Kuleana,” also won the Hōkū for Hip Hop Album of the Year at the 2020 Nā Hōkū Hanohano Awards.[5] In 2022, Iannucci's album “The Illyindé Tape” was also nominated for a Hōkū.
Writing
editIn 2023, Iannucci made his publishing debut when his short story, "Hā'ule Hau," was published by New Zealand literary journal Takahē Magazine in their April issue, vol. 107.[19] Later that year, his short story, "boy," was published by Bamboo Ridge, for their 45th Anniversary edition, Issue #127, and eventually was highlighted as a standout piece on their website.[20] Due to his dynamic reading style and experimental writing (he often writes completely in Pidgin), Iannucci began to attract increased interest in his work across Hawaii, with Chris McKinney naming him alongside Megan Kamalei Kakimoto and Joseph Han as one of three “young Hawai’i authors to watch”[21] during an interview at the Hawaii Book & Music Festival, Hawaii's biggest literary event of the year. In 2026, he signed to the Fischer-Harbage Literary Agency, announcing via press release that work had begun on his debut short story collection, tentatively titled "People Watching."[22]
Iannucci also writes non-fiction, generally focusing on Hawaii-related themes, much like his musical output, though with a greater focus on Pidgin advocacy. In 2026, he published "Da Pidgin Pak," several cultural essays and one short story written primarily in Pidgin, in collaboration with noted Pidgin linguist and Hawaii Poet Laureate Lee Tonouchi via the Hawaii Review of Books,[10] as well as a humorous essay for Honolulu Magazine about a night in Waikiki spent with Lilo & Stitch (2025 film) star and longtime friend Sydney Agudong.[23]
Discography
edit- Notti Insonni (2014)
- Makana (2017)
- Kuleana (2019)
- Doubting Thomas (2020)
- The Illyindé Tape (2021)
References
edit- ↑ "Na Hoku winning Hawaii rapper Thomas Iannucci releases new album, "Kuleana"". December 4, 2019.
- 1 2 3 Ablog, Kailanianna (May 22, 2019). "Award-Winning Rhythm: Thomas Iannucci". Ka Leo O Hawaii.
- ↑ "38th Annual Nā Hōkū Hanohano Award Winners". Honolulu Magazine. 2015-05-24. Retrieved 2024-05-28.
- ↑ "Thomas Iannucci : Na Hoku Hanohano winner". The Garden Island. June 3, 2018.
- 1 2 Ancheta, Dillon. "Josh Tatofi scoops top honors in 2020 Nā Hōkū Hanohano Awards". Hawaii News Now. Retrieved 2022-02-11.
- ↑ "John Lennon Songwriting Contest". jlsc.com.
- ↑ "Black music in Hawaii: hip-hop's Hawaii connection". February 29, 2020.
- ↑ Iannucci, Thomas (June 14, 2023). "X". Twitter. Retrieved 2023-07-05.
- ↑ "45th Anniversary: Bamboo Ridge Issue 124 - Bamboo Ridge Press". www.bambooridge.org. Retrieved 2024-07-06.
- 1 2 "Da Pidgin Guccis". The Hawaiʻi Review of Books. 2026-02-28. Retrieved 2026-04-14.
- ↑ Sicha, Choire (2022-02-25). "How to Get Famous With Kanye West's Instagram". Vulture. Retrieved 2026-04-14.
- ↑ Lang, Robert (2025-12-08). "Step & Repeat Gallery: The Best Red Carpet & Party Photos Of 2025". Deadline. Retrieved 2026-04-14.
- ↑ Cardoza, Riley (2021-11-23). "Kanye West's Son Saint Adorably Plays Catch With Tom Brady: Video". Us Weekly. Retrieved 2026-04-14.
- ↑ Johnson, Alan (2022-05-23). "Kanye West returns to Instagram on eve of wedding anniversary to Kim Kardashian". Daily Mirror. Retrieved 2026-04-14.
- ↑ "about thomas iannucci". thomasiannucci.com/. Retrieved 2026-04-14.
- ↑ "Illtalian Says Hello to Thomas Iannucci; Drops 'Famiglia' with KJ52". 19 October 2018.
- ↑ "Na Hoku-winning rapper nominated for Freshman Class on prominent Christian rap site". January 29, 2020.
- ↑ "Rapzilla.com's 2020 Freshmen List Revealed". January 30, 2020.
- ↑ "takahē 107: Print - takahē". 2023-06-21. Retrieved 2026-04-14.
- ↑ "(boy) excerpt and spoken word by thomas iannucci - Bamboo Ridge Press". www.bambooridge.org. Retrieved 2026-04-14.
- ↑ "HBMF 2024: Event recap by thomas iannucci - Bamboo Ridge Press". www.bambooridge.org. Retrieved 2024-10-04.
- ↑ Thomas Ianucchi announces signing to leading agency. 2026-02-05. Retrieved 2026-04-14 – via www.hawaiinewsnow.com.
- ↑ Iannucci, Thomas (2026-04-01). "Honolulu Stories: Live a Little". Honolulu Magazine. Retrieved 2026-04-14.