After signing a multi-billion dollar recording deal with Def Jam to record an album while incarcerated, former Bad Boy rapper Shyne is seeking to jump ship from the label according to industry sources.

According to an article from the New York Post, the decision came after Shyne had a clashing with Def Jam's main man Antonio "L.A." Reid over the lack of marketing and promotions for his last album "Godfather Buried Alive," which resulted in poor record sales and reportedly sold only 354,000 units as of Nov. 2004.

In the article, Shyne accuses Reid over his lack of support while labeled him as one that has little interest in supporting hip-hop artists.

Other issues at hand that have made additional complications for Shyne is the fact that according to a New York law referred to as the "Son of Sam," convicted felons are prohibited from profiting from their crimes via T.V., books, recordings and other media outlets.

Due to this issue, New York district courts have barred Universal from disbursing any revenue to Shyne from the LP.

With negotiations to get Shyne released from his contract, the rapper seeks to get another deal with either Warner Music or Sony, who both previously pitched him prior to the rapper locking in a deal with Def Jam.

A handwritten letter, according to the Post, sent by Shyne to Reid dated Jan. 25th stated, "Unfortunately this partnership is not working . . . Please prove Russell Simmons wrong. Show that you are concerned about this culture and more important, the prophet that sits in a cage, Shyne!"

A spokesperson for Def Jam declined comment on the relationship between the label and Shyne.

Russell Simmons expressed concerns pertaining to Shyne and the direction of Def Jam saying, "Will the new transition team at Def Jam see Shyne for the potential he has to become a Spiritual Prophet as he defines himself or will he be reduced to the thug that the street is racing to define him as?"

Although Simmons has since left the label, many executive positions have been shifted and squeezed out, including the release of Kevin Liles, who was the font-man who inked the deal for Shyne on the behalf of Def Jam.

Since then, Jay-Z has been assigned the head post at Def Jam who reportedly made a visit to Shyne who is locked up at Rikers Island to soften things up only to find little success according to the Post.

Shyne is currently doing 10 years for his his role in a 1999 Manhattan nightclub shooting which involved Sean "P. Diddy" Combs, who was represented by Johnnie Cochran and later acquitted of all charges.

Shyne however was convicted over his involvement in which as been referred to by many as an incident in which Shyne turned out to be the scapegoat for the Bad Boy mogul Sean "P.Diddy" Combs.

Currently, Shyne is looking at releasing another album in April.