A legal battle over Drake’s hit single “Janice STFU” escalated this week after a reference track central to the dispute surfaced on X. The recording was created by plaintiff Aviel Hirschfield, a Grammy-nominated songwriter who previously collaborated with Drake on Beyoncé’s “Heated.” While the pair share a credit on that track, Hirschfield’s involvement in “Janice STFU” is now the subject of intense litigation. Despite audible similarities between the leaked demo and the final release, Drake’s camp vehemently denies any outside contribution to the song’s writing. A legal representative for Hirschfield confirmed to Pitchfork that the leaked audio matches the exhibit submitted in court; Complex first reported the leak.
According to the complaint, Hirschfield delivered a vocal take—featuring a prominent interpolation of Lykke Li’s “I Follow Rivers”—to production duo FnZ and other Drake associates in an effort to reach the rapper. Upon the track’s release, the lawsuit alleges Hirschfield 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.” Hirschfield claims his requests for a co-writer credit and retroactive publishing splits were rejected, and asserts that his metadata will establish his work predates Drake’s version.
In a statement to Billboard, Drake’s representatives insisted he has “no connection or knowledge” of Hirschfield. “Let us be absolutely clear: These allegations are categorically, unequivocally and completely denied,” the statement read. “There is not one iota of truth to these accusations, and we reject every attempt to portray these claims as established facts.” Universal Music Group, Drake’s label, is also named as a defendant. “Janice STFU,” which spent two weeks atop the Hot 100 this spring, marks the rapper’s most significant commercial success in recent years.
The chorus in question appears at roughly the 45-second mark of the leaked recording.
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