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Rita Ora Sues Roc Nation to Get Out of Contract

"Body on Me" singer says label relationship is “irrefutably damaged.”

Jay Z introduced his protégé Rita Ora, to the American music market by walking her into the studios of New York’s Z100 three years ago. 

“This was all very spontaneous,” Jay said at the time of debuting Ora's new single. “We just came to see some great friends over here at Z100 in my neighborhood and we knew they would like what they heard, because Rita is amazing.”

Things between Ora and The Roc have been “irrefutably damaged” since then. The "Body on Me" singer filed a complaint in a Los Angeles Superior court Thursday to get out of her recording contract, Billboard reports.     

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In her complaint, Ora says she’s been “orphaned” by the label she now calls "diminished" with a "handful" of "superstar artists" on its roster. Jay's accused preoccupation with other business ventures, like Tidal, are mentioned in the court documents.  

Ora, who relocated to California, is now funding her own music career. Her legal fight hinges on the state's “seven-year rule,” limiting the length of “employee” contracts. Ora joined Roc Nation in 2008. 

When Rita signed, Roc Nation and its senior executives were very involved with her as an artist," the complaint reads. "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."

Roc Nation’s distribution partnership with Sony made things worse, according to the complaint. ”Between Sony's limited economic return from its orphaned relationship with Roc Nation and Sony's indirect relationship with Rita, Rita is caught in a political quagmire of dysfunction.“ 

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You're watching: BET Breaks: Rita Ora Wants Out of Roc Nation Record Deal in the video.

(Photo from left: Larry Busacca/Getty Images, Anthony Harvey/Getty Images)

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