thomas iannucci

Writer. Poet. Rapper.

thomas iannucci a writer, poet, and 3x Nā Hōkū Hanohano (also known as the Hawaiian Grammy) award-winning rapper of Italian and Filipino descent from Kaua'i, Hawaii. Known for his hard-hitting portrayals of an authentic Hawaii rarely scene in mainstream media, iannucci seeks to dispel the problematic veneer of paradise that permeates mainland perceptions of Hawaii in all his artistic endeavors.

Photo by Sheadon Ringor

Writing the real Hawaii.

Since making his writing debut in 2023, thomas iannucci has taken the Hawaii literary scene by storm. With his penchant for starkly realistic character pieces, ear for authentic Pidgin dialogue, and dynamic live readings, iannucci has both challenged and charmed readers across Pasifika, and is poised to crossover to the continental United States. In his writing, thomas strives to accurately portray the nuances of the human condition, not just for the people of Hawaii, but for everyone. His work has appeared in Bamboo Ridge, New Zealand's Takahē Magazine, The Hawaii Review of Books, and more.

Photo by Evan Fujimoto

Award-Winning Rapper

A passionate advocate for social issues in Hawaii, thomas iannucci is known for his gritty depictions of a broken Hawaii in dire need of fixing. His style evokes other rappers who thread the needle between lyrical consciousness and mainstream appeal, including Eminem, J. Cole, and Kendrick Lamar. A 3x Nā Hōkū Hanohano (also known as the Hawaiian Grammy) award winning rapper from the island of Kaua'i, thomas first won in 2015's Alternative Album of the Year category alongside Streetlight Cadence for his work on their album "Beyond Paradise," before winning twice as a solo artist in the Hip Hop category, in 2018 for his debut album "Makana," and in 2020 for  "Kuleana."

He was also a finalist in the Rap category for the national John Lennon Songwriting Contest in 2016.  As a rapper as well as an influencer, iannucci's press mentions and quotes include some of the biggest magazines and blogs in the world, including USWeekly, Billboard, Paper Magazine, Rapzilla.com, Earmilk, and the UK's The Mirror. He, alongside several other young rappers, was also the subject of an article by Vulture/New York Magazine. iannucci is a voting member of the National Academy of Recording Arts, class of 2021. His music has been played on the legendary New York Hip Hop station HOT 97, and he has collaborated with many well-known rappers, including Eminem signee GRIP, foggieraw, 1k Phew, Parris Chariz, Ruslan, Sonny Sandoval of P.O.D., and GUAPDAD 4000. KHON2 News, Hawaii's premiere news channel, named him as part of the "new generation of rappers pushing the boundaries of Hawaii Hip Hop."

Photo by Sheadon Ringor

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