In a recent lawsuit, it is alleged that Drake’s latest hit, “Janice STFU,” contains a stolen hook, a claim vehemently denied by his team. The legal action, filed on October 16 in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California, asserts that the chorus was penned by Aviel (Avi) Hirschfield, a Grammy Award-winning hip-hop artist and producer who had collaborated with Drake previously.
According to the lawsuit, Hirschfield got the inspiration for the lyrics and melody while driving a borrowed luxury Maybach to Seattle and listening to “I Follow Rivers” by Lykke Li, an artist Drake has previously sampled. Hirschfield reportedly recorded a demo with his vocals over an audio file produced by FnZ, a duo known for their work with Drake, and shared it with various individuals in hopes of it reaching Drake.
The lawsuit further claims that Hirschfield was taken aback upon hearing Drake’s rendition of the chorus in “Janice STFU,” as it closely mirrored the exact lyrics and notes from his recorded demo. Drake’s team has refuted these accusations, labeling them as entirely untrue.
The track “Janice STFU” made an impressive debut at No. 1 on both the Billboard Global 200 and the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 in May. This achievement marks Drake’s 14th chart-topping hit, breaking his tie with Michael Jackson for the most No. 1 hits by a male solo artist. To address the unintended consequences of the song, Drake hosted a series of parties to apologize to individuals named Janice who felt targeted.
Despite his contribution, Hirschfield did not receive a co-writing credit or a portion of the song’s profits. Drake’s representatives have stated that he has no knowledge or association with Hirschfield, firmly denying the allegations. Universal Music Group, a co-defendant in the lawsuit, declined to comment on the ongoing legal matter.