Frank Ocean’s Pops Wants Over $100 Mil From Music Mogul

Odd Future singer Frank Ocean's father has reportedly taken direct aim at music mogul Russell Simmons with a $142 million lawsuit.

Calvin Cooksey claimed Simmons’ website Global Grind has portrayed him as a bad dad.

In his lawsuit, Cooksey goes on the attack — saying he wasn’t allowed to be a father to Frank because his “Money Grubbing mother” moved, and hid the boy from him. Cooksey says Simmons published lies about him without checking facts — and worst of all … never bothered to use his actual name in the posts about Ocean’s father.  Translation: at least defame me by using my proper name! Cooksey is suing for loss of future income — he describes himself as a singer, writer and inventor — and thinks the $142 million should just about cover it. (TMZ)

Ocean recently issued out some pink slips to these people…

Summer reports suggested Ocean fired his management team earlier this year.

Ocean, who rose to prominence as a member of L.A.’s anarchic rap collective Odd Future in 2011, had been managed by the group’s de facto godparents Christian and Kelly Clancy since 2010. But earlier this spring he surprised the couple, who also manage Tyler, the Creator, Solange Knowles, and Mac Miller, by informing them he would be taking his career in a different direction. A new manager has not yet been named, according to a source close to Ocean. (Buzz Feed)

Along with management, Frank decided to let go of his public relations team.

The publicist, Brooklyn- and L.A.-based agency Life or Death PR (which also represents Odd Future), has also been let go. In its place, Ocean has hired Hollywood agency ID PR, whose clients include artists Alicia Keys and Paul Simon as well as movie stars like Jennifer Lawrence and Sean Penn. (In an unofficial swap, former ID client Mac Miller was recently acquired by Life or Death.) (Buzz Feed)

Last March, reports revealed Frank’s long-awaited follow-up to channel ORANGE was finally forming.

Since deleting his Twitter and Instagram accounts, the reclusive singer has shared little about the follow-up to his 2012 Grammy-winning album channel ORANGE. But in the late hours of Monday, he posted a photo of himself on Tumblr, reassuring fans that a new album is on the way. Photographer Nabil snapped the Odd Future crooner seated in the studio with his back facing the camera. “Frank in the lab.. Making sophomore album game,” said Nabil. (Rap-Up)