Canadian rapper Drake has denied allegations that he copied the chorus of his hit song Janice STFU from producer and songwriter Aviel Calev Hirschfield, popularly known as Avi, who has filed a copyright lawsuit against the musician and other music industry entities.
Drake’s representative strongly rejected the allegations, describing the lawsuit as a baseless attempt to exploit the rapper’s fame for financial gain and publicity.
The dispute follows claims by Hirschfield that he recorded a chorus in January 2026 and shared it with producers who had worked with Drake before the rapper released Janice STFU in May.
According to court documents reported by TMZ, Hirschfield alleges that the released track contains lyrics and a melody that match the material he had previously recorded. He claims he provided timestamped audio files to support his account but was denied songwriting credit and a share of the song’s profits.
Drake’s Team Rejects Copyright Allegations
Responding to the lawsuit, a representative for Drake issued a forceful denial, insisting that the rapper did not take the chorus from Hirschfield.
“These allegations are categorically, unequivocally, and completely denied. There is not one iota of truth to these accusations,” the representative told TMZ.
The representative further described the legal action as a “manufactured and baseless attempt” to use Drake’s name and success to obtain money and attention.
“Drake wrote this song and has no connection or knowledge of this person full stop,” the representative added.
The statement makes the rapper’s position clear: his team disputes Hirschfield’s account of how the chorus was created and rejects the claim that Drake wrongfully used another songwriter’s work.
However, the competing accounts have yet to be resolved through the court process.
What the Producer Claims Happened
Hirschfield alleges that he developed the chorus in late 2025 and early 2026 before recording a version in January.
According to reporting on the complaint, he sent the material to FnZ, a production duo associated with Drake’s music, as well as other producers in the rapper’s professional circle.
Hirschfield claims he later heard Janice STFU and recognised what he says were similarities between the released chorus and his earlier recording.
He alleges that he supplied audio files and metadata to support the timeline of his work while seeking recognition as a songwriter and compensation connected to the track.
The producer says those efforts did not result in the credit or financial arrangement he wanted.
The central question in the dispute is whether the evidence can establish that protected elements of Hirschfield’s work were used without authorisation and whether the defendants are legally responsible. Similarity claims alone do not determine the outcome of a copyright case.
A Dispute Over Songwriting Credit and Profits
The case raises questions about how reference recordings, shared demos and songwriting contributions are handled in the music industry.
Producers and songwriters sometimes circulate recordings while developing material for artists. Disagreements can arise when a contributor believes their work has been used without appropriate acknowledgement or payment.
In this case, Hirschfield’s allegations concern the timing of his recording, the people to whom he says he sent it and the similarities he claims exist between his version and Drake’s released chorus.
Drake’s team, on the other hand, maintains that the rapper wrote the song himself and had no connection to Hirschfield.
Those positions remain in conflict, and the evidence will need to be assessed through the legal process.
Lawsuit Remains Unresolved
The lawsuit puts the creation of Janice STFU under scrutiny, but it does not mean that copyright infringement has been established.
Hirschfield’s allegations have not been proven in court, and Drake’s representative has denied wrongdoing. The legal process will determine whether the claims are supported by the available evidence and whether any party is entitled to compensation.
For now, the dispute centres on competing accounts of the chorus’s origins, the alleged sharing of an earlier recording and whether the producer should have received songwriting credit or a portion of the song’s earnings.
As the case develops, further details about the complaint and responses from the parties could clarify the issues at the heart of the dispute.
Source: TMZ — Drake’s Team Denies Stealing ‘Janice STFU’ Chorus · Complex — Drake Responds to “Janice STFU” Lawsuit
