A new lawsuit against Drake is placing one of his greatest hits in years under a authorized microscope. Songwriter and producer Aviel Calev Hirschfield, who goes by Avi, claims the refrain of “Janice STFU” is “literally identical” to a demo he despatched to Drake’s circle, and Drake’s group is already pushing back laborious.
According to a criticism filed Friday, October 16, and first reported by Billboard, Hirschfield alleges he wrote the hook in December 2025 and January 2026 and despatched it to producers who work with Drake, only to hear the same lyrics and melody when the observe dropped on Iceman in May. TMZ also obtained the submitting, which says Hirschfield offered audio information with timestamps to back up his claim, and that Drake’s camp refused to give him credit score or a reduce of the earnings.
The swimsuit alleges Hirschfield wrote his demo over an audio mattress he obtained from producer duo Michael “Finatik” Mulé and Isaac “Zac” De Boni, recognized as FNZ, who are frequent Drake collaborators. FNZ are credited as co-writers on “Janice STFU,” which also interpolates Lykke Li’s 2011 tune “I Follow Rivers.” Hirschfield says he constructed his demo around that same interpolation and wrote it particularly with Drake in thoughts. He also factors to a previous connection, noting he was beforehand listed as a co-writer alongside Drake on Beyoncé’s 2022 observe “Heated.”
The Lawsuit Against Drake Hinges On Stems And Metadata
According to Billboard, the criticism claims Hirschfield despatched his completed demo to FNZ and other producers in Drake’s orbit and never heard back. He says he first heard “Janice STFU” when Iceman hit streaming platforms. “15 seconds in, Avi was stunned to hear Drake perform word-for-word, note-for-note, beat-by-beat, the exact same chorus that he (Avi) had recorded and sent,” the criticism reads.
Since the tune’s launch, Hirschfield says he has requested for a co-writer credit score and publishing splits. The lawsuit alleges Drake’s legal professionals “shamelessly refuse to acknowledge Avi’s authorship,” sustaining that Drake wrote the refrain on his own even after Hirschfield offered his stems and metadata. The criticism also takes goal at a place it says Drake’s facet has taken, that Hirschfield manipulated the metadata in his information to make it look like his work came first. “Such a deception would constitute career suicide by Avi,” the submitting states.
Hirschfield is bringing copyright infringement claims against Drake, his firm OVO Sound, and Universal Music Group, the dad or mum of Drake’s label Republic Records and his writer Universal Music Publishing Group. He is in search of a share of the earnings from the tune, alleging Drake “robbed Avi of the reputational benefits and substantial compensation he deserves for his contribution to Drake’s biggest hit in many years.” Reps for UMG had not responded to Billboard’s request for remark at the time of publication.
Drake’s group wasted no time responding, and their statements go away no room for interpretation. “Let us be absolutely clear: These allegations are categorically, unequivocally and completely denied,” a rep instructed Billboard. “There is not one iota of truth to these accusations, and we reject every attempt to portray these claims as established facts.” The assertion continued, “We firmly believe this lawsuit is a manufactured and baseless attempt to exploit Drake’s name, reputation and success for financial gain and attention.” TMZ reported that the group added that “Drake wrote this song and has no connection or knowledge of this person, full stop.”
The stakes are excessive given how huge the tune has been. “Janice STFU” spent two weeks atop the Billboard Hot 100 and 20 weeks at No. 1 on the Hot Rap Songs chart, Drake’s longest reign on the listing.
The put up Drake’s Team Calls Producer’s Lawsuit ‘Manufactured And Baseless’ After Claim That ‘Janice STFU’ Chorus Was Stolen appeared first on Bossip.
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