Songwriter Sues Drake Over “Janice STFU” Chorus, and Drake’s Team Denies the Claim

The Drake Janice STFU lawsuit was filed on Friday, October 16, 2026, when songwriter and producer Aviel Calev Hirschfield sued Drake, OVO Sound and Universal Music Group, alleging that the chorus of “Janice STFU” was lifted from a demo he sent to Drake’s producers in early 2026.

A representative for Drake has denied the allegations in full and called the suit baseless. No court ruling had been reported as of October 19, 2026.

What does the Drake Janice STFU lawsuit allege?

Hirschfield says the hook on “Janice STFU” matches work he created and delivered months before ICEMAN arrived. According to Billboard, which obtained the complaint, he alleges the finished record contains a chorus “literally identical” to his demo, and that he received neither songwriting credit nor compensation.

The complaint says he received an instrumental from FNZ, the production duo of Michael “Finatik” Mulé and Isaac “Zac” De Boni, and built a demo between December 2025 and January 2026 that interpolates Lykke Li’s 2011 song “I Follow Rivers.” He says he sent the recording to FNZ and other producers in Drake’s circle and heard nothing back until ICEMAN was released in May 2026.

FNZ received songwriting credits on “Janice STFU,” while Hirschfield’s name was left off. His claim centers on the additional writing he says he contributed beyond the Lykke Li interpolation, including lyrics that are not part of the original song. He is seeking a share of the profits and recognition as a writer.

The dispute has a second thread. The complaint alleges that after the song’s release, Drake’s attorneys maintained the rapper wrote the chorus himself, even after receiving audio stems and metadata that Hirschfield says date his version. It also says Drake’s representatives suggested he altered that metadata. His lawyers reject the accusation and argue that faking evidence against an artist he had worked with would be career suicide.

How did Drake’s team respond?

In a statement reported by TMZ on October 16, 2026, a Drake representative said the allegations are “categorically, unequivocally, and completely denied.” The representative described the filing as a fabricated attempt to cash in on Drake’s name and said Drake wrote the song and has no connection to, or knowledge of, the plaintiff.

Drake’s representative declined to comment when Billboard asked about the complaint, and Universal Music Group had not responded at the time of that report. No public reply from Hirschfield to the denial had been reported as of October 19, 2026.

How is Aviel Calev Hirschfield connected to Drake?

Hirschfield is not a stranger to Drake’s orbit. The two share songwriting credits on “Heated,” a track from Beyoncé’s 2022 album Renaissance. He says he wrote his demo with Drake in mind after receiving the FNZ instrumental. That earlier credit is context for the claim, but it does not establish the allegations in the new suit.

How big is “Janice STFU”?

The song is one of the biggest commercial successes of Drake’s career. According to HotNewHipHop, it spent two weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 and 20 weeks at No. 1 on the Hot Rap Songs chart. It appears on ICEMAN, Drake’s ninth studio album, which arrived on May 15, 2026 alongside two companion projects, Habibti and Maid of Honour.

What is the timeline?

What is confirmed and what is not?

Here is where things stand as of October 19, 2026.

What happens next?

The next step is procedural. Drake, OVO Sound and Universal Music Group will have to answer the complaint in court, and the audio stems and metadata at the center of the dispute are likely to draw scrutiny as the case moves forward. Nothing has been decided, and the claims remain allegations.

Drake’s music is still moving in the meantime. HotNewHipHop reported on October 17, 2026 that a new photo appears to show him recording at his Toronto home studio.