Drake Faces New Plagiarism Lawsuit Over ‘Janice STFU’

The ongoing narrative surrounding Drake and his reliance on external songwriting talent has taken a serious turn. The superstar rapper is now facing a new lawsuit regarding his hit song ‘Janice STFU’, with allegations suggesting he may have benefited from creative work that was never officially compensated or credited.

The legal action was initiated by Aviel Calev Hirschfield, who claims to have written a demo between December 2025 and January 2026. According to the filing, the chorus of Hirschfield’s demo bears a striking resemblance to the final version of the track released by the OVO mogul. Hirschfield further alleges that the lyrics in question were used “word for word” and “note for note.”

Adding another layer of complexity to the dispute, the songwriter noted that his original work was inspired by Lykke Li’s 2011 hit, ‘I Follow Rivers.’ The lawsuit suggests that the main melody of the Drake track appears to be an interpolation of the Lykke Li song, raising questions about the chain of authorship and the legitimacy of the claims made by both parties.

Hirschfield asserts that he was neither compensated nor credited for his contributions to the song. Meanwhile, the artist has reportedly maintained that he is the sole author of the composition. Given that the hook of ‘Janice STFU’ has become a global success, the stakes for this intellectual property dispute are significant. As the industry watches closely, the case highlights the persistent tension between high-profile artists and the songwriters who often operate behind the scenes.