Drake Denies Copyright Claims Over ‘Janice STFU’ as Producer Avi Files Lawsuit

Canadian rapper Drake has denied allegations that he copied the chorus of his song Janice STFU from music producer Aviel Calev Hirschfield, professionally known as Avi, who has filed a lawsuit against the rapper.

According to court documents obtained by TMZ, Hirschfield claims he created and recorded the song’s hook in January 2026 before sending it to producers who had previously worked with Drake.

The producer alleges that Drake later released Janice STFU in May 2026 with lyrics and a melody that closely matched the material he had recorded. He said he possesses timestamped audio files that support his claim.

Hirschfield further alleges that he was denied songwriting credit and a share of the song’s profits despite his claimed contribution. He is seeking legal recognition of his allegations through the lawsuit, which was filed on Friday.

However, Drake has strongly rejected the accusations through a representative, who described the claims as entirely false.

“These allegations are categorically, unequivocally, and completely denied. There is not one iota of truth to these accusations,” the representative told TMZ.

The representative also characterised the lawsuit as a “manufactured and baseless attempt” to exploit Drake’s reputation and commercial success for financial gain and publicity.

“Drake wrote this song and has no connection or knowledge of this person full stop,” the representative added.

The dispute centres on whether Hirschfield’s alleged recording was used in the creation of Janice STFU without proper acknowledgement or compensation. If established in court, the allegations could raise questions about songwriting ownership, copyright protection and the use of musical material in commercial releases.

However, the claims remain allegations, and no court determination has been reported. Drake’s denial means the dispute will depend on the evidence presented and the outcome of the legal proceedings.