Reports emanating from the United States suggest that Jay-Z is on the verge of being dropped by his own record label.

“Excessive demands” are being cited as the major reason the doubt over his future exists, together with a recent initiative to leave Universal for Columbia that fell through.

The rapper and president of Def Jam Records could now be the victim of his label’s relationship with Universal, of which it is a subsidiary, as the major considers not renewing his contract when it expires later this month.

Speaking to the New York Daily News, a source revealed: "People have lost count of how many times he's come out of retirement.

"Everybody knows he's not around the office much. Everybody at Universal loves him, but they can't justify paying him the money he wants when so many people have been laid off."

Another reason for discontent comes with Jermaine Dupri’s appointment as president of Def Jam’s urban music division in February.