{{Short description|American rapper}} {{Use mdy dates|date=January 2020}} {{Infobox musical artist | name = Amanda Blank | image = Amanda Blank.jpg | caption = Blank in 2006 | image_size = <!-- Only for images narrower than 220 pixels --> | birth_name = Amanda Mallory McGrath | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1983|3|10}} | occupation = Rapper, singer-songwriter | origin = Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S. | genre = {{flatlist| *Electronica *Baltimore club}} | years_active = 2004–present | label = Downtown Records | current_member_of = Sweatheart | spouse = {{marriage|Matt Helders|September 2023}} | website = {{URL|www.amandablank.com}} }} '''Amanda Blank''' (born '''Amanda Mallory McGrath''';<ref name="The Return of Amanda Blank">{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/music/pop/the-return-of-amanda-blank-the-ruiner-interview-1235028420/ |title=The Return of Amanda Blank |magazine=Billboard |access-date=February 9, 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://pantagraph.com/entertainment/mc-singer-songwriter-amanda-blank-has-a-growing-rep/article_24ee4394-9e41-11de-a527-001cc4c03286.html |title=MC-singer-songwriter Amanda Blank has a growing rep|date=September 12, 2009 |publisher=The Pantagraph |access-date=February 9, 2022}}</ref> March 10, 1983) is an American singer,<ref name="NY Times Article">{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/27/arts/music/27shep.html?ex=1359176400&en=214c39869708eb51&ei=5090&partner=rssuserland&emc=rss |work=The New York Times |first=Julianne |last=Shepherd |date=January 27, 2008 |access-date=August 8, 2012 |title=Hip-Hop's Newest Faces: Indie, Fierce and Female}}</ref> rapper and member of the performance art band Sweatheart based in Philadelphia.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://rwdmag.com/articles/4676.html |title=RWD article |publisher=Rwdmag.com |access-date=August 8, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120721215205/http://www.rwdmag.com/articles/4676.html |archive-date=July 21, 2012 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
==Early life== Amanda Blank was born in Germantown, a neighborhood in northwest Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1983. Amanda and her sisters were raised in a row house in Germantown by artist parents.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|title = Downtown Music – Amanda Blank|url = http://www.downtownmusic.com/artist/amanda-blank|date = May 21, 2009|access-date = November 11, 2015|website = downtownmusic.com|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090521093308/http://www.downtownmusic.com/artist/amanda-blank|archive-date=May 21, 2009 }}</ref> Blank based her stage name on ''Strangers with Candy'' character, Jerri Blank, played by Amy Sedaris.<ref name="The Return of Amanda Blank"/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://itm.junkee.com/amanda-blank-a-charming-chatterbox/12632|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220209175245/http://itm.junkee.com/amanda-blank-a-charming-chatterbox/12632|url-status=dead|archive-date=February 9, 2022|title=Amanda Blank: A charming chatterbox|publisher=In the Mix|date= December 22, 2009 |access-date=February 9, 2022}}</ref>
==Career== She frequently collaborates with rapper Naeem, most notably on the track "Blow" on the mix CD ''Bmore Gutter Music'' and later "Bump" on the album ''YoYoYoYoYo'', released in 2006. Her songs have appeared in HBO's ''Life Support'' and the ''CSI: NY'' episode "Buzzkill". In 2007, she was featured on the official Eli Escobar and Doug Grayson remix for Britney Spears's hit single "Gimme More". In early 2008, Blank was described as being part of "a new crop of young, multicultural, female hip-hop acts in the wake of MIA causing a stir on the internet and in indie-label conference rooms."<ref name="NY Times Article"/> Blank's song "Supafreak" appeared in the movie ''Observe and Report'' in 2009. She was featured on the song "Loose" on the ''Spank Rock and Benny Blanco are Bangers & Cash EP'', which appeared in the ABC show ''Castle'' episode "Lucky Stiff". Blank's song "Make It Take It" appeared in a commercial for McDonald's in 2010.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://restaurantnews.com/mcdonalds-gets-a-makeover/ |title=Retrieved 28 April 2010 |publisher=Restaurantnews.com |date=March 5, 2010 |access-date=August 8, 2012}}</ref>
Blank signed to Downtown Records in 2007.<ref name=":0" /> Her first solo album, ''I Love You'', was produced by XXXChange, Diplo, and Dave Sitek in August 2009, with her first single being "Might Like You Better".<ref>{{Cite web|title = Amanda Blank – I Love You| date=August 4, 2009 |url = http://www.discogs.com/Amanda-Blank-I-Love-You/release/1876353|publisher = discogs|access-date = November 11, 2015}}</ref>
Amanda Blank has opened for Canadian electroclash musician Peaches,<ref>{{cite web|last=Fragassi |first=Selena |url=http://www.popmatters.com/pm/review/117072-peaches-amanda-blank-20-november-2009-chicago-il/ |title=Retrieved 28 April 2010 |work=PopMatters |access-date=August 8, 2012}}</ref> the Yeah Yeah Yeahs,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.brooklynvegan.com/archives/2009/07/yeah_yeah_yeahs_24.html |title=Retrieved 28 April 2010 |publisher=Brooklynvegan.com |date=July 21, 2009 |access-date=August 8, 2012}}</ref> and label mate Santigold.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://archive.boston.com/ae/music/articles/2009/11/13/amanda_blank_raps_with_a_speed_that_just_comes_naturally_to_her/ |title=Retrieved 28 April 2010 |work=Boston Globe |date=November 13, 2009 |access-date=August 8, 2012}}</ref>
On May 16, 2019, she released a song called "Put Me Out." In 2020, she had a feature in the track "WooWooWoo", on Naeem's album ''Startisha''.
==Personal life==
Blank married Arctic Monkeys drummer Matt Helders in 2023.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.thenews.com.pk/latest/1111439-arctic-monkeys-matt-helders-secretly-ties-knot-with-beau-amanda-blank | title=Arctic Monkeys' Matt Helders secretly ties knot with beau Amanda Blank }}</ref><ref name="The Return of Amanda Blank"/>
==Discography==
===Albums=== *2005: ''Bmore Gutter Music'' (Mix CD) *2006: ''Blow'' (EP) *2009: ''I Love You'' *TBA: ''The Ruiner''
===Singles=== *2009: "Might Like You Better" *2009: "Shame on Me" *2019: "Put Me Out" *2020: "Oh Man" *2021: "Love You Again"
===Other=== *2007: "Get It Now" 12"
===Featuring work=== *"Foul Mouth" – on ''Dimensional People'' LP (with Mouse on Mars) *"Quicksand (Mad Decent 2010 Rerub)"- (with Major Lazer) *"A Volta" – feat. Sizzla and Lovefoxxx, on ''The Spirit of Apollo'' LP (with NASA) *"Bump" – 12" (with Spank Rock) *"Extraball" – on the ''Away from the Sea'' LP (with Yuksek) *''Lindsay Lohan's Revenge'' – 12" (with Pase Rock) *''Supahead'' – (Wowo Bmore Gutter Music) *''Loose'' – 12" (with Bangers & Cash) *''Pillowface and His Airplane Chronicles'' – (with Spank Rock) *''Sexy Motherfucker'' – 12" (with Pase Rock) *''Blow Remix EP'' – (with Aaron LaCrate, 45 King, Dj Equalizer, Debonair Samir) *''YoYoYoYoYo'' – (with Spank Rock) *''Startisha'' - (with Naeem) *''Bmore Gutter Music'' – (with Aaron LaCrate, Low Budget, Spank Rock) *"What U Like" – (with Major Lazer) *"Love Thing Part 3 (Only you)" – On Eli Escobar's "Love thing" LP *"Psycho Killa" – On The '87 Stick Up Kids "Car Keys & Rabbit Feet" LP
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== * {{Official website|amandablank.com}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Blank, Amanda}} Category:21st-century American women rappers Category:Living people Category:Rappers from Philadelphia Category:1983 births Category:21st-century American rappers