A recent lawsuit claims that Drake’s hit song “Janice STFU” features a stolen hook, an accusation vehemently denied by his team. The lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California on October 16, alleges that the chorus was penned by Aviel (Avi) Hirschfield, a Grammy Award-winning hip-hop artist and producer who had collaborated with Drake previously.
Hirschfield reportedly drew inspiration for the lyrics and melody while driving a borrowed Maybach to Seattle, listening to Lykke Li’s “I Follow Rivers,” a track Drake has previously sampled. He recorded a demo with his vocals over a track produced by FnZ, known for their work with Drake, and shared it with various individuals in hopes of reaching Drake.
According to the lawsuit, Hirschfield was surprised to hear Drake sing the exact chorus he had recorded for “Janice STFU,” leading to the legal dispute. Drake’s team has refuted these claims, asserting their complete falsity.
An unauthorized version of the track created by Hirschfield has surfaced online for comparison with Drake’s official release. “Janice STFU” debuted at No. 1 on both the Billboard Global 200 and the U.S. Billboard Hot 100, marking Drake’s 14th chart-topping hit. The song also set a new record for Drake, surpassing Michael Jackson’s record for the most No. 1 hits by a male solo artist.
Drake hosted a series of events to apologize to individuals named Janice who felt targeted by the song. Despite his involvement in the creation of the chorus, Hirschfield was not credited as a co-writer and was denied a share of the song’s profits.
Drake’s representatives have disavowed any knowledge or connection to Hirschfield, labeling the allegations as baseless and unsubstantiated. Universal Music Group, also implicated in the lawsuit, declined to comment on the ongoing legal proceedings.