Jay Z's Roc Nation label countersues Rita Ora

NEW YORK, Feb. 2 (UPI) -- Jay Z's Roc Nation record label is countersuing Rita Ora after the singer attempted to get out of her contract back in December.

Ora signed with Roc Nation for a five album deal when she was only 18 in 2008. So far, the singer has only released one album under that deal, the self-titled Ora in 2012.

Roc Nation is now suing Ora for breach of contract and claims they have suffered millions in damages after investing money to develop and promote her still unreleased second album.

"Roc Nation's marketing and recording costs, to date, for Ms. Ora's still incomplete second album are not less than $2,353,500," the lawsuit states according to the New York Post.

In an attempt to be released from Roc Nation, the "Black Widow" songstress filed a lawsuit in December claiming that the label had "orphaned" her and was focused on other ventures outside her music career.

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

In a statement provided to TheWrap, Ora's attorney, Howard King has said that Jay Z has already agreed to release her from her contract. "Jay Z has personally and graciously promised Rita complete freedom from Roc Nation, the details of which are now being finalized," King said. "We believe that Roc Nation's distributor, Sony Music, has required Roc Nation to file this action to preserve whatever rights Sony might have pending resolution."

Ora filed in Los Angeles to take advantage of the state's "seven-year rule" which limits personal service contracts to seven years. Roc Nation filed their countersuit in Manhattan Supreme Court.