Roc Nation’s Rita Ora Wants Out, Sues Jay Z’s Company

Written By Cyrus Langhorne

Jay-Z
1.5k Views 38 Comments

Roc Nation princess Rita Ora has reportedly taken legal action against music mogul Jay Z‘s company in hopes of being released from her contract.

According to reports, Ora filed a complaint Thursday (December 17) in Los Angeles Superior Court claiming Roc Nation violated a California law.

“When Rita signed, Roc Nation and its senior executives were very involved with her as an artist,” states the complaint. “As Roc Nation’s interests diversified, there were fewer resources available and the company suffered a revolving door of executives. Rita’s remaining supporters at the label left or moved on to other activities, to the point where she no longer had a relationship with anyone at the company.” (Billboard)

Additional reports claim Rita has had to pay out of pocket for various business-related expenses.

Ora (now living in California) says she’s on her own, “self-funding her promotional television appearances, recording costs and video projects,” but she has a problem. In 2013, Roc Nation switched its distribution partner from Sony to Universal, but according to the lawsuit, she’s been left behind at Sony, which she paints as “hamstrung” by Roc Nation’s alleged inattention. (Billboard)

Last year, Ora made headlines for teaming up with sports apparel line adidas.

Rita has been previewing her designs for months (in magazines and IRL), but she just gave her Ritabots a sneak peek at the “Black Pack,” which appears to include a leather sports bra and jogging pant? I’m 99% sure I’d drown in my own sweat if I wore leather to work out, but if I looked like Rita while doing it, I’d take my chances. There’s also the varsity jacket that Rita has been a big fan of and a beanie that’s covered with patches. (MTV)

Rita performed at Jay Z’s Made In America music festival last year with Hustle Gang’s Iggy Azalea.

Made in America never sounded better, err, looked better, than when Iggy Azalea and Rita Ora brought their Aussie-Britty hot stage and concert show to Los Angeles over the Labor Day weekend. I can’t comment much as to the music, but as to the two young pop divas prancing around the stage in showy costumes and pretending to kiss and fondle each other, well, you know how I feel about even pretend lesbionics. (Egotastic!)

38 Comments

Written by Cyrus Langhorne

SOHH.com Writer. You're likely to find me covering hip-hop news and music releases. Netflix is still my go-to before Disney Plus.

38 Comments

  1. Good for her cause in the beginning she was everywhere then nothing. Let that girl live. Beside anyone who denies that a Jay Z company is only good for Jay Z is just a stan.

    • thats true because, Big Sean, Meek Mill, J cole, all had their biggest years under Jay. Sound like a Jay Z hater. lol

      • Meek Mill albums-Maybach/Warner Brothers

        Big Sean albums-GOOD Music/Def Jam

        J.Cole albums- Roc Nation/ Columbia

        So what are you really saying? Bedside J.Cole who ALREADY had a following and co-sign by Kanye was the only artist on Roc Nation. Which is a sub division of Columbia so your telling me Jay-Z is the sole person who had his hand in J.Cole’s success? The others are managed and I use that word lightly. Any company Jay-Z owns has people quit or resign or get fired. Its facts. She says herself that all the people on the label who helped her are gone.

        Also where did I say Jay-Z is personally responsible? I said a Jay-Z company and thats facts. Just look at Tidal. Go to wall street journal or Bloomberg news and check the records.

        Then again anyone who say anything even remotely negative about anything Jay has his hand in is considered a jay-Z hater.

        Typical Jay-Z fanatics.

        • sounds like a bunch of fucking crying to me, If youre hot believe me people will work with you. Half of all the fucking rocafella artist, half of all the def jam artist, wale, now she crying. lol boo fucking hoo

          • Sounds like a bunch of crying?
            How is that when you just proved my point…half of the Roc and half of Def Jam while he was Pres? kinda looks like a trend to me. Also do you consider Jay Electronica “hot”? He was working with Dame and them and dropping music then he signed to Roc nation…..where he at now?
            Look you a Jay-Z fan….so of course to you he can do no wrong but facts and logic don’t lie. Some people were meant to be artist some executives. He’s not good at the later.
            Face the facts and be a man about it.
            One of the nicest to bless the mic? Yes or course
            Good executive? Hell no.

          • Look let me keep it 100 with you. all those artist thats blaming jay might have a small gripe with him, but the majority falls on their own damn shoulders. Jay Electronica could have stayed underground if he wanted but he wanted to get out to the masses. Right? In order to do that you need a single right? nigga never produced it plus he all in love with his rich girl. That nigga not worry about music. LL was hating because he wanted Def Jam to market his album. How the fuck you market LL? He fucking LL lol. Dmx, straight drugs. Beans, fucked over millions, Man i can go on and on on these niggas who wont look in the mirror and take some blame. And let me give you a lesson in life. When you are in a group or in an organization. Not everybody gonna make it to the top. Thats facts. What you hearing is a bunch of fucking egos because in their heart they feel that they should be at the top. It just dont work that way. Rita think shes Rihanna. Straight up. and she not even close.

          • Cool story bro….and every Jay-Z fanatic will believe it. So preach to your choir us rational business minded individuals know the facts.

          • lol smh. ok bruh. How you think Jay Z should handle it? Put all his energy and time/money towards Rita Ora, which in turn will result in a minimal profit if not a loss. “Business minded individuals” would let the bitch go. straight up. Since you talking straight business. Everybody in the music game knows you dont make money off album sales. So i dont even know what the fuck we talking about. lmao

          • smh….”what the fuck we talking about”? I made a factual comment and a few of you guys had little girly hissy fits and came to your idols defense.
            So because I think your a fairly intelligent person..although I could be wrong…I will say this as plainly as possible.
            Jay-Z is not a good business man unless it comes to promoting Jay-Z.
            He creates companies or buys them and the people he picks to run them are either incompetent and get fired or these employees think Jay is incompetent so they quit
            Those are facts.
            Now you and a few other people keep saying ” Jay this and Jay that” but he doesn’t have his hand in the day to day of these artist.
            NO CEO DOES!
            Anyone who disputes that does not know how companies work.
            Plain and simple.
            You ask “How should Jay-Z handle it”
            He doesn’t cause his artist are property for his company. A line on a ledger.
            he doesn’t handle it. She doesn’t even mention him. She says the people at the company who left.
            So I said originaly Jay-Z company only benefits Jay-Z and thats the truth.
            Problem is all you guys get so offended that anyone say anything remotely negative about Hov and get on the offensive instead of looking at his history of being an executive. Either at Def jam or Roc Nation or Tidal.
            Its all out there for you guys to see but your admiration or love or whatever for this man blinds you.
            Matter of fact answer me one question when did I ever say negative about Jay-Z ? I said ‘A jay-Z company only benefits JayZ” and guess what no company owner will say other wise. You think he spends all this money buy or creating so he can lose money?
            Lol you guys are fanatics.
            Now I cant explain it any more clearly than that. if you still think I’m shitting on Hov then respond…or don’t either way theres no way I can make this any more clear. So for the sake of it we’ll leave it here.
            I will say one thing tho….even though we went back and forward with each others opinions/facts/truths/whatever there was no negative talk or insults towards each other as individuals. Guess that counts for something.

            Have a good life dude. Take care.

        • Come n Go, happens all the time in music biz. For some reason Jay Z is looked at differently when he is attached to disgruntled artist.

          Bottom line she will be famous with or without him from here on out. JAY Z EFFECT

          • It is in fact true that Jay Z is at a point in his career that his co-sign has catapulted other’s entire careers. To name a few; just as examples: Rick Ross, Young Jeezy, Rihanna, J Cole et al. You don’t have to be fan of his to observe this occurrence. When he speaks, people who “matter” in that industry listen. It is the same as when Dr. Dre co-signs someone. I agree with Geesworld that she will be ok without him off the strength of an old co-sign.

          • Rick Ross was with Suave House and then Trick Daddy a long while before Jay gave him a “co-sign”. Which in actuality nowadays means jack shit.
            Jeezy? Actually was with Bad Boy first in that group then Jazze Pha put LA Reid on to Jeezy and thats how he was signed…when LA was running shit at Def Jam.
            Rihanna and J.Cole are the only ones and are proven money makers. But lets be honest with ourselves Jay “co-signed” RiRi when she was already popping. So that again don’t mean shit….he just helped her reach that next level. And Cole? He already had a fan base Jay’s label was smart enough to scoop him up.
            Again Jay is not the great executive every one ( street dudes only who don’t know no better ) claims he is. You said people who matter. I’m glad you put the word matter in quotes cause this is the music biz…people who matter are one wrong move from being has beens. The list of Jay’s “accomplishments” molding other artist is so small yet the list of artist he can’t help is a longer list. His help is in artist that are already at the door of fame….he adds his name or verse to a song then they in…thats it.
            OK after this I’m done with everyone cause you can’t tell Hova fanatics nothing. Hova is God to them so much that they cant see what every other rational person sees.

          • You’re wrong in many ways. For one: Suave House/ Slip N Slide/Trick Daddy did not take Rick Ross to the level that he is today. Two: Badboy didn’t take Jeezy to that level either. Three: There was no “co-sign RiRi when she was already poppin” he put her out from day one. He has been involved in her career from the jump. Four: Jay Z is also responsible for J. Cole’s success (J. Cole’s talent too but still). It’s not so much “Hova fanatics” as much as objective observation. But yeah, peace.

          • uh huh…cool story….keep telling it and it might become believable….to someone…

          • Your talking about “levels” I’m talking about who they were signed with who gave them their start.
            Smh Hova fanatics won’t give anyone credit

          • What the fuck? What I’m talking about is what a Jay Z co-sign can do for someone’s career; based on you trying to refute the original point being made.. Take his dick out your mouth little boy and get an education.

  2. I dont know any music by this person. Why are people even signing to record companies nowadays? Seems like the company does nothing and takes a lot of your money.

  3. Good for her cause in the beginning she was everywhere then nothing. Let that girl live. Beside anyone who denies that a Jay Z company is only good for Jay Z is just a stan.

    • thats true because, Big Sean, Meek Mill, J cole, all had their biggest years under Jay. Sound like a Jay Z hater. lol

    • Meek Mill albums-Maybach/Warner Brothers

      Big Sean albums-GOOD Music/Def Jam

      J.Cole albums- Roc Nation/ Columbia

      So what are you really saying? Bedside J.Cole who ALREADY had a following and co-sign by Kanye was the only artist on Roc Nation. Which is a sub division of Columbia so your telling me Jay-Z is the sole person who had his hand in J.Cole’s success? The others are managed and I use that word lightly. Any company Jay-Z owns has people quit or resign or get fired. Its facts. She says herself that all the people on the label who helped her are gone.

      Also where did I say Jay-Z is personally responsible? I said a Jay-Z company and thats facts. Just look at Tidal. Go to wall street journal or Bloomberg news and check the records.

      Then again anyone who say anything even remotely negative about anything Jay has his hand in is considered a jay-Z hater.

      Typical Jay-Z fanatics.

    • sounds like a bunch of fucking crying to me, If youre hot believe me people will work with you. Half of all the fucking rocafella artist, half of all the def jam artist, wale, now she crying. lol boo fucking hoo

    • Sounds like a bunch of crying?
      How is that when you just proved my point…half of the Roc and half of Def Jam while he was Pres? kinda looks like a trend to me. Also do you consider Jay Electronica “hot”? He was working with Dame and them and dropping music then he signed to Roc nation…..where he at now?
      Look you a Jay-Z fan….so of course to you he can do no wrong but facts and logic don’t lie. Some people were meant to be artist some executives. He’s not good at the later.
      Face the facts and be a man about it.
      One of the nicest to bless the mic? Yes or course
      Good executive? Hell no.

    • Come n Go, happens all the time in music biz. For some reason Jay Z is looked at differently when he is attached to disgruntled artist.

      Bottom line she will be famous with or without him from here on out. JAY Z EFFECT

    • Look let me keep it 100 with you. all those artist thats blaming jay might have a small gripe with him, but the majority falls on their own damn shoulders. Jay Electronica could have stayed underground if he wanted but he wanted to get out to the masses. Right? In order to do that you need a single right? nigga never produced it plus he all in love with his rich girl. That nigga not worry about music. LL was hating because he wanted Def Jam to market his album. How the fuck you market LL? He fucking LL lol. Dmx, straight drugs. Beans, fucked over millions, Man i can go on and on on these niggas who wont look in the mirror and take some blame. And let me give you a lesson in life. When you are in a group or in an organization. Not everybody gonna make it to the top. Thats facts. What you hearing is a bunch of fucking egos because in their heart they feel that they should be at the top. It just dont work that way. Rita think shes Rihanna. Straight up. and she not even close.

    • It is in fact true that Jay Z is at a point in his career that his co-sign has catapulted other’s entire careers. To name a few; just as examples: Rick Ross, Young Jeezy, Rihanna, J Cole et al. You don’t have to be fan of his to observe this occurrence. When he speaks, people who “matter” in that industry listen. It is the same as when Dr. Dre co-signs someone. I agree with Geesworld that she will be ok without him off the strength of an old co-sign.

    • Rick Ross was with Suave House and then Trick Daddy a long while before Jay gave him a “co-sign”. Which in actuality nowadays means jack shit.
      Jeezy? Actually was with Bad Boy first in that group then Jazze Pha put LA Reid on to Jeezy and thats how he was signed…when LA was running shit at Def Jam.
      Rihanna and J.Cole are the only ones and are proven money makers. But lets be honest with ourselves Jay “co-signed” RiRi when she was already popping. So that again don’t mean shit….he just helped her reach that next level. And Cole? He already had a fan base Jay’s label was smart enough to scoop him up.
      Again Jay is not the great executive every one ( street dudes only who don’t know no better ) claims he is. You said people who matter. I’m glad you put the word matter in quotes cause this is the music biz…people who matter are one wrong move from being has beens. The list of Jay’s “accomplishments” molding other artist is so small yet the list of artist he can’t help is a longer list. His help is in artist that are already at the door of fame….he adds his name or verse to a song then they in…thats it.
      OK after this I’m done with everyone cause you can’t tell Hova fanatics nothing. Hova is God to them so much that they cant see what every other rational person sees.

    • Cool story bro….and every Jay-Z fanatic will believe it. So preach to your choir us rational business minded individuals know the facts.

    • You’re wrong in many ways. For one: Suave House/ Slip N Slide/Trick Daddy did not take Rick Ross to the level that he is today. Two: Badboy didn’t take Jeezy to that level either. Three: There was no “co-sign RiRi when she was already poppin” he put her out from day one. He has been involved in her career from the jump. Four: Jay Z is also responsible for J. Cole’s success (J. Cole’s talent too but still). It’s not so much “Hova fanatics” as much as objective observation. But yeah, peace.

    • uh huh…cool story….keep telling it and it might become believable….to someone…

    • lol smh. ok bruh. How you think Jay Z should handle it? Put all his energy and time/money towards Rita Ora, which in turn will result in a minimal profit if not a loss. “Business minded individuals” would let the bitch go. straight up. Since you talking straight business. Everybody in the music game knows you dont make money off album sales. So i dont even know what the fuck we talking about. lmao

    • smh….”what the fuck we talking about”? I made a factual comment and a few of you guys had little girly hissy fits and came to your idols defense.
      So because I think your a fairly intelligent person..although I could be wrong…I will say this as plainly as possible.
      Jay-Z is not a good business man unless it comes to promoting Jay-Z.
      He creates companies or buys them and the people he picks to run them are either incompetent and get fired or these employees think Jay is incompetent so they quit
      Those are facts.
      Now you and a few other people keep saying ” Jay this and Jay that” but he doesn’t have his hand in the day to day of these artist.
      NO CEO DOES!
      Anyone who disputes that does not know how companies work.
      Plain and simple.
      You ask “How should Jay-Z handle it”
      He doesn’t cause his artist are property for his company. A line on a ledger.
      he doesn’t handle it. She doesn’t even mention him. She says the people at the company who left.
      So I said originaly Jay-Z company only benefits Jay-Z and thats the truth.
      Problem is all you guys get so offended that anyone say anything remotely negative about Hov and get on the offensive instead of looking at his history of being an executive. Either at Def jam or Roc Nation or Tidal.
      Its all out there for you guys to see but your admiration or love or whatever for this man blinds you.
      Matter of fact answer me one question when did I ever say negative about Jay-Z ? I said ‘A jay-Z company only benefits JayZ” and guess what no company owner will say other wise. You think he spends all this money buy or creating so he can lose money?
      Lol you guys are fanatics.
      Now I cant explain it any more clearly than that. if you still think I’m shitting on Hov then respond…or don’t either way theres no way I can make this any more clear. So for the sake of it we’ll leave it here.
      I will say one thing tho….even though we went back and forward with each others opinions/facts/truths/whatever there was no negative talk or insults towards each other as individuals. Guess that counts for something.

      Have a good life dude. Take care.

    • Your talking about “levels” I’m talking about who they were signed with who gave them their start.
      Smh Hova fanatics won’t give anyone credit

    • What the fuck? What I’m talking about is what a Jay Z co-sign can do for someone’s career; based on you trying to refute the original point being made.. Take his dick out your mouth little boy and get an education.

  4. I dont know any music by this person. Why are people even signing to record companies nowadays? Seems like the company does nothing and takes a lot of your money.

N.W.A.’s Headed To Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame, Ice Cube Reacts: “This Means The Group’s Mark Is Solidified”

SOHH First: Bomshot, CokeBoy P & Lukey Don’s “UoWanfukWimme” [Slim Jesus & Stitches Diss]