Q&A: Dirtygirl rapper Amanda Blank

When hipsters of the future look back upon the latter half of the millennium and the advent of the bright-colored skinny jean, they will no doubt note it was marked with a string of successes by female rappers. A few of them busted through the constraints of the "fem-cee" image (wherein style prevails over talent) to change the game (inarguably M.I.A and Lady Sovereign); others fulfilled their destiny to fizzle (Roxy Cottontail, Uffie). The jury's still out on the likes of Kid Sister, Santigold and Spankrock-spawned dirtygirl rapper Amanda Blank.

But something tells us upon hearing the latter performer's new album I Love You that Blank just might have a shelf life longer than a tube of mascara. The album's produced by the oft imitated Diplo and Switch, as well as Blank's longtime pal XXXChange of Spankrock, and it's a grimy electro-rap gem teeming (not forced) with personality. We spent a few minutes with Blank over e-mail this week before her show tonight with Matt & Kim, and she kept things refreshingly short and sweet.