{{Infobox musical artist | name = Tha Feelstyle | image = | image_size = | landscape = <!-- yes, if wide image, otherwise leave blank --> | alt = | caption = | background = solo_singer | birth_name = Kas Futialo | native_name = | native_name_lang = | alias = | birth_date = <!-- {{birth date and age|YYYY|MM|DD}} --> | birth_place = Samoa | origin = Auckland, New Zealand | death_date = <!-- {{death date and age|YYYY|MM|DD|YYYY|MM|DD}} (death date 1st) --> | death_place = | genre = Hip hop | occupation = | instrument = | years_active = 1987–present | label = Festival Mushroom Records | associated_acts = | website = {{URL|www.facebook.com/pages/THA-FEELSTYLE/118823123469}} }}

'''Kas Futialo''', known by the stage name '''Tha Feelstyle''', is a New Zealand hip hop artist of Samoan descent. His first album was ''Break It To Pieces'' in 2004. Tha Feelstyle was born in Samoa and moved to New Zealand in the 1980s. He raps in English as well as the Samoan language.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Shute|first1=Gareth|title=Feelstyle: Feeling Tha Style|url=http://www.nzmusician.co.nz/index.php/ps_pagename/article/pi_articleid/474|accessdate=1 September 2014|work=NZ Musician|issue=October/November 2004|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140903125852/http://www.nzmusician.co.nz/index.php/ps_pagename/article/pi_articleid/474|archivedate=3 September 2014}}</ref>

==History== Tha Feelstyle entered his first rap competition in 1987 and under the name of RIQ was part of the Wellington hip hop duo Rough Opinion with Samoan rapper K.O.S.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.muzic.net.nz/artists/genre/5/1474/tha-feelstyle |title=Tha Feelstyle |publisher=music.net.nz |access-date=29 December 2021}}</ref> In the 1990s, he was a member of The Overstayers which included King Kapisi and DJ Raw (aka Ian Seumanu). He has also worked with Andy Morton (aka The Submariner) an experienced producer in Auckland who has worked with various New Zealand artists including King Kapisi and Che Fu. The music video for Tha Feelystyle's award-winning single ''Suamalie/Ain't Mad at You'' was filmed in Samoa and directed by New Zealand filmmaker Chris Graham, the director of feature film Sione's Wedding.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.nzonscreen.com/person/chris-graham/biography |title=Chris Graham |publisher=NZ Onscreen |access-date=29 December 2021}}</ref> The track also featured in the movie. In 2009, Tha Feelstyle toured New Zealand with King Kapisi.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.kingkapisi.net/index.php |title=King Kapisi |publisher=King Kapisi |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090817214649/http://www.kingkapisi.net:80/index.php |archive-date=17 August 2009}}</ref> In 2008, Tha Feelstyle released the Samoan-language album Lokokasi. In March 2011, he released his third album ''Good Morning Samoa'', at the Pasifika Festival. ''Good Morning Samoa'' was nominated for three awards at the 2012 Pacific Music Awards - for Best Pacific Male Artist, Best Pacific Language album, and Best Pacific Music Album.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/entertainment/pacific-music-awards-finalists-announced/R7XOE4KTGNL63TA7HUY752SDAU/?c_id=1501119&objectid=10799552 |title=Pacific Music Awards finalists announced |publisher=New Zealand Herald |date=17 April 2012 |access-date=29 December 2021}}</ref>

==Awards==

{{awards table}} |- | 2005 | Tha Feelstyle - ''Break It To Pieces'' | Pacific Music Awards - Best Pacific Male Artist | {{won}}<ref name="pma2005">{{cite web|title=2005 Pacific Music Awards|url=http://www.pacificmusicawards.org.nz/event/2005/|website=Pacific Music Awards|publisher=Pacific Music Awards|accessdate=1 September 2014|archive-date=24 October 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141024081001/http://www.pacificmusicawards.org.nz/event/2005/|url-status=dead}}</ref> |- | 2005 | Tha Feelstyle - Break It To Pieces | Pacific Music Awards - Best Pacific Urban Artist | {{won}}<ref name="pma2005"/> |- | 2005 | Kas Futialo and Ian Seumanu - "Su'amalie" | Pacific Music Awards - APRA Best Pacific Song | {{won}}<ref name="pma2005"/> |- | 2005 | Kas Futialo, Andy Morton, Grant Osborne & Andrew B. White - ''Break It To Pieces'' (Tha Feelstyle) | New Zealand Music Awards - Best Album Cover | {{won}}<ref name="nzma2005">{{cite web|title=2005 Winners|url=http://www.nzmusicawards.co.nz/2009/10/29/2005-winners/|website=NZ Music Awards|publisher=Recorded Music NZ|accessdate=1 September 2014|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110808170415/http://www.nzmusicawards.co.nz/2009/10/29/2005-winners/|archivedate=8 August 2011}}</ref> |- | 2005 | Tha Feelstyle – ''Break It To Pieces'' | New Zealand Music Awards - Breakthrough Artist of the Year | {{nom}}<ref name="nzma2005"/> |- | 2005 | Tha Feelstyle – ''Break It To Pieces'' | New Zealand Music Awards - Best Urban/Hip Hop Album | {{nom}}<ref name="nzma2005"/> |- | 2012 | Kas Futialo (aka Tha Feelstyle), ''Good Morning Samoa'' | New Zealand Music Awards - Best Pacific Music Album | {{won}}<ref>{{cite web|title=2012 Vodafone New Zealand Music Awards Winners Announced|url=http://www.nzmusicawards.co.nz/2012/11/01/2012-vodafone-new-zealand-music-awards-winners-announced/|website=NZ Music Awards|publisher=Recorded Music NZ|accessdate=1 September 2014|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20130806101256/http://www.nzmusicawards.co.nz/2012/11/01/2012-vodafone-new-zealand-music-awards-winners-announced/|archivedate=6 August 2013}}</ref> |- |}

==References==

{{reflist|2}}

==External links== *[http://www.nzonscreen.com/title/suamalie--aint-mad-at-you-2004 Watch Suamalie music video NZ On Screen website] *[http://www.nzherald.co.nz/pasifika-festival/news/article.cfm?c_id=791&objectid=10114819 NZ Herald article] *[https://web.archive.org/web/20140903125852/http://www.nzmusician.co.nz/index.php/ps_pagename/article/pi_articleid/474 NZ Musician Magazine interview, 2004] *[https://archive.today/20130116073622/http://1samoana.com/blog/2011/03/good-morning-samoa-the-new-album-by-kas-futialo/ One Samoana Notebook interview, 2011] *[http://www.amplifier.co.nz/artist/8345/tha-feelstyle.html Tha Feelstyle's music on Amplifier.co.nz]

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Feelstyle, Tha}} Category:Samoan artists Category:New Zealand people of Samoan descent Category:New Zealand rappers Category:Living people Category:Pacific Music Award–winning artists Category:Year of birth missing (living people)