Drake Faces Lawsuit Over ‘Janice STFU’ Alleging Chorus Duplicates Songwriter’s Demo

In a notable legal development, Grammy-winning artist Drake is facing a lawsuit that alleges he utilized a songwriter’s demo without consent or acknowledgment for the hook in his highly successful single “Janice STFU” from the album “Iceman.” The legal action, initiated by songwriter Aviel Calev Hirschfield, is being represented by law firm Kinsella Holley Iser Kump Steinsapir. The claim was filed on Friday, October 16, as reported by a media source.

The lawsuit asserts that the chorus of “Janice STFU,” which enjoyed a two-week stint at the top of the Billboard Hot 100 chart and dominated the Hot Rap Songs chart for 20 weeks, is “literally identical” to a demo that Hirschfield submitted to Drake’s team in early 2026. Hirschfield claims to have created the demo in December 2025 and January 2026, using an audio background from the producer duo known as FNZ, who are known collaborators of Drake.

Hirschfield, who has previously co-written for Drake on the track “Heated” for Beyoncé, alleges that he sent his demo to FNZ and other producers associated with Drake but received no response. According to the complaint, he recognized the similarities between his material and “Janice STFU” only after the song was released on streaming platforms.

While FNZ is credited as co-writers for “Janice STFU,” Hirschfield argues that the hook’s melody and lyrics mirror his original work. He further claims that his attempts to secure a co-writing credit and a share of the publishing profits have been met with resistance from Drake’s legal representatives. In fact, Drake’s team has categorically denied the allegations, characterizing them as exploitative and fabricated. They maintain that Drake independently created the song.

The lawsuit not only seeks a share of the profits from “Janice STFU,” but it also claims that the lack of acknowledgment has deprived Hirschfield of both financial compensation and professional recognition for what he asserts is his significant contribution to the track. It names Drake, OVO Sound, and Universal Music Group, the parent company of Drake’s label, as defendants.

As the legal proceedings unfold, further developments are awaited in what could have significant implications for copyright laws within the music industry.

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