Spencer "Big Cats!" Wirth-Davis is a composer, musician and producer hailing from Minneapolis, Minnesota. Wirth-Davis makes instrumental hip hop that draws from a wide range of musical influences including classical, hip hop and jazz. His work is melancholy, multi-layered and cinematic; a definite stylistic departure from the standard hip hop sound. As a multi-instrumentalist and student of hip hop, his music seamlessly integrates live instrumentation and traditional sampling techniques, while drawing from his background as a classically trained musician. His compositions go well beyond the traditional sample-and-drums format of hip hop, creating complex juxtapositions of instruments, rhythms and sonic textures. 

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Before turning to hip hop, Wirth-Davis studied string bass for nine years under the instruction of Chris Brown (St. Paul Chamber Orchestra), Michael Watson (Minnesota Opera), and Chris Bates (McKnight Fellow). In 2011, he received a McKnight Composer Fellowship, marking the first time it has been awarded to a hip hop artist. He has released music both as a solo artist and as a collaborator with other artists, including Sage Francis, P.O.S., Jolie Holland, Kyle "Guante" Tran Myhre, Big Quarters, Haley Bonar and others. Wirth-Davis released his first solo record in 2007. That same year, he appeared on progressive hip hop and spoken word icon, Sage Francis' recordHuman the Death Dance, composing "Black Out on White Night." In 2008, Wirth-Davis released his second solo record, Sleep Tapes. He celebrated the release with a featured set at the producer showcase, Last of The Record Buyers. Sleep Tapes received rave reviews from City Pages, RapReviews.com and elsewhere, and earned him an invitation to the first-ever Content Under Pressure event along with Blueprint, Abstract Rude and other indie hip hop luminaries.

In 2009, Wirth-Davis began working with hip hop artist/spoken-word poet/social justice activist, Kyle "Guante" Tran Myhre. Together, they perform as Guante and Big Cats!. The pair released the Start A Fire EP in May 2009, and recorded a full length record, An Unwelcome Guest, in November. Wirth-Davis wrote and performed all the music on the record, with Guante handling all vocals. The record was released in January 2010 through Minneapolis record label Tru Ruts/Speakeasy Records, in conjunction with Strange Famous Records. It was well received by critics locally and nationally, and is currently in rotation at college and independent radio stations around the country. Guante and Big Cats! have also taken their songs to the stage, performing with a five-piece band. They have been featured at Soundset Festival, the One Day In July festival, and live in studio at 89.3 The Current and Radio K. Guante and Big Cats! have shared bills with Brother Ali, Toki Wright, Blue Scholars, Cecil Otter, Dessa, Kristoff Krane, No Bird Sing, Maria Isa, and more. Wirth-Davis also works with Minneapolis hip hop duo The Tribe. The Tribe & Big Cats! released their debut record, Forward Thinkers Movers Shakers, in January of 2011. It features appearances from Toki Wright, Abstract Rude, Planet Asia and others. City Pages wrote, “In Minneapolis' thriving community of rap producers, Big Cats! and DJ Pete prove themselves as standouts. There are plenty of moments throughout the album where the lush instrumentals get space to breathe, and every beat feels rich and full”. The Tribe & Big Cats! are currently performing throughout the Midwest in support of the record. In 2011, Wirth-Davis plans to continue working with Guante and The Tribe, as well as releasing new solo material.