It appears that Roc Nation is taking it’s first major hit as a roster.
Outspoken British rapper M.I.A. has announced her departure from Jay Z’s famed management company. The Sri Lanka-born emcee joined Roc Nation in 2012, but apparently, she’s decided to take her career in a new direction. She broke the news via Twitter.
“2013 i found old tweet to bring u this. im leaving @RocNation . Thanks to everyone who supported the M.I.A #MATANGI LP. HAPPY NEW YEAR | 2014,” M.I.A. tweeted.
M.I.A. has had a tumultuous year. She and her ex-fiance, Benjamin Bronfman, engaged in a very public and very ugly custody battle for their four year old son; she made it known that she was unhappy with Roc Nation’s handling of filmmaker Steve Loveridge. Loveridge directed a documentary about M.I.A. and leaked some of the footage early, which led to a clash with Roc Nation. Loveridge was reportedly fired after the disagreement, but M.I.A. announced back in August that he had resumed direction of the project.
Many are speculating that the friction involving the documentary is one factor that has lead to M.I.A.’s defection from “The Roc.”
Despite the conflicts, the artist also released one of the year’s most acclaimed albums. Her fourth studio LP, Matangi, was released in November to widespread accolades and acclaim from critics.
