Rapper, actress
Megan Eloise “Tall Kat” Gutwig (born January 19, 1979) is an American rapper, songwriter, choreographer, actress and producer, best known for her work in the hip-hopera “Urban Widow”.
In the two-and-a-half decades since her national-chart début, she remains one of the most-successful female rappers in the history of the rap genre, which garnered her the title of 'The Queen of Urban Beats', with twenty-two number-one singles being attributed to her writing.
She is known for her distinctive delivery, sometimes-bawdy humor, flamboyant dress sense and slender figure.
Gutwig began performing at early age, singing at local talent shows and community centers in and around Chicago, Illinois. Born to Margaret and Charles Gutwig, a mechanic, she took to performing naturally as a means of gaining the attention of her parents and peers. As one of six children, she was quick to develop and learn that independence would be her way out.
On April 23, 1996, Gutwig hopped a train to Georgia with childhood friend, Aleesha Murray, to audition for famous hip hop producer James Earlgood at Trak Runners. Though the pair went on to audition as a duo, it was clear that Gutwig was the talent.
Gutwig's initial success came as a songwriter, writing two top ten hits with her "Put it Off " and 1997 hit "Fuel to the Fight". She also wrote a minor chart hit for Queen Latifah during this period. She had signed with Underfoot Records in late 1996, where she was initially pitched as a suburban pop rapper.
The label agreed to have Gutwig sing as an independent female rapper after her composition, "Put It Off," as recorded by Da Brat, went to number six on the hip-hop-music charts in 1999. Her first rap single, "Take me and Leave" (one of the few songs during this era that she recorded but did not write), reached number twenty-four on the rap music charts in 2001, followed the same year with "Getcha Some," which went to number seventeen.
Gutwig went on to have a lengthy career in the industry as a songwriter, producer and choreographer. She earned a Tony award in 2005 for her work in the hip hopera “Urban Widow,” a story about a young girl’s passion for music and life while raising her siblings in the inner city of Detroit. Many attribute the storyline to be that similar to Gutwig’s own life. She has also been featured on numerous tracks with artists such as Lil’ Kim, MC Lyte, and Jean Grae. Gutwig retired from the business to concentrate on producing new talent and to pursue her acting career in 2009.
She went on to marry producer Allen T. Jones in 2006. The couple currently lives in L.A. where they co-own Pulse Records.
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