Drake’s recent hit song, Janice STFU, is facing controversy as a lawsuit filed last week claims the rapper plagiarized the chorus. The legal action, initiated on Oct. 16 in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California, alleges that the chorus was originally composed by Grammy Award-winning hip-hop artist and producer, Aviel (Avi) Hirschfield, who had collaborated with Drake in the past.
According to the lawsuit, Hirschfield drew inspiration for the lyrics and melody while driving a luxury Maybach to Seattle, listening to a track by Lykke Li, an artist previously sampled by Drake. Hirschfield then recorded a demo with his vocals over a production by FnZ, a duo known for working with Drake, in hopes of reaching the Toronto rapper.
However, the lawsuit alleges that when Hirschfield heard Drake’s Janice STFU, he was shocked to find the chorus identical to his own demo. Drake’s team vehemently denies these claims.
The dispute raises questions about the similarity between the two tracks, with Hirschfield’s leaked version available for comparison. Drake’s Janice STFU debuted at No. 1 on both the Billboard Global 200 and the U.S. Billboard Hot 100, marking his 14th chart-topping hit and breaking a record previously held by Michael Jackson for the most No. 1 hits by a male solo artist.
In response to the song’s impact, Drake held parties to apologize to individuals named Janice who felt targeted by the lyrics. Despite the controversy, Hirschfield did not receive credit as a co-writer and was denied a portion of the song’s profits.
Drake’s representatives have refuted any association with Hirschfield, stating that the allegations are baseless. Universal Music Group, also implicated in the lawsuit, declined to comment on the ongoing legal matter.