A songwriter is suing Drake, claiming the rapper copied his chorus word for word for his smash hit “Janice STFU” and refused to credit him or share the profits.
Aviel Calev Hirschfield filed a copyright infringement lawsuit Friday, Oct. 16, alleging that the hook on Drake’s Iceman single is “literally identical” to a demo he submitted to the rapper’s collaborators months earlier.
According to the complaint Billboard obtained, Hirschfield created the song between December 2025 and January 2026 using music supplied by production duo FNZ. He says he specifically intended the track for Drake and sent his recording to producers connected to the superstar, but received no response. When the song appeared on streaming services in May, Hirschfield claims he recognized his work almost immediately.
“Fifteen seconds in, Avi was stunned,” the lawsuit states, alleging Drake performed the same chorus “word-for-word, note-for-note, beat-by-beat.”
Hirschfield, who previously shared a songwriting credit with Drake on Beyoncé’s “Heated,” is seeking compensation and recognition.
Drake’s representatives have vehemently denied the accusations.
“Drake wrote this song and has no connection or knowledge of this person, full stop,” his team told Billboard. The lawsuit also names OVO Sound and Universal Music Group.
“Janice STFU” spent two weeks atop the Billboard Hot 100.
