Drake’s team is firing back at a producer’s lawsuit that alleges the rapper stole the “Janice STFU” chorus. The lawsuit, filed on October 16, claims that Avi Hirschfield wrote the song’s chorus based on an audio bed provided by frequent Drake collaborators FNZ, who are credited as co-writers on the track. Hirschfield asserts that he built his demo around the same interpolation used in Lykke Li’s “I Follow Rivers,” and that he was previously listed as a co-writer alongside Drake on another song.

Since the release of “Janice STFU,” Hirschfield has requested a co-writer credit and publishing splits but has been denied by Drake’s lawyers, who maintain that Drake wrote the chorus independently. Hirschfield’s complaint also accuses Drake’s team of suggesting that he manipulated metadata in his files to claim authorship, which Hirschfield calls a career-destroying deception.

Hirschfield’s lawsuit names Drake, his company OVO Sound, and Universal Music Group as defendants, seeking a share of the song’s profits and acknowledging the significant financial loss he claims he has endured. The song has been a massive success, spending two weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 and 20 weeks at No. 1 on the Hot Rap Songs chart, marking Drake’s longest reign on the latter.

In response, Drake’s team has denied the allegations outright. “These allegations are categorically, unequivocally, and completely denied,” said a representative. The denial is particularly forceful, leaving no room for ambiguity or negotiation. This legal battle highlights the complex and often contentious nature of the music industry, where credit and compensation for creative contributions can be fiercely contested.

For Black communities, this case resonates with broader issues of recognition and compensation for creative labor, especially within industries where Black artists often face systemic barriers to fair representation and reward. The fight for recognition and respect in creative fields is not new; it echoes the struggles of past generations who fought for their intellectual property rights and fair treatment in an industry that has historically undervalued their contributions.

The case also underscores the importance of transparency and accountability in the music industry, a sector that has long been criticized for its opaque practices and lack of ethical standards. For Avi Hirschfield, this lawsuit is a fight for justice and a call for the industry to recognize the value of the work that often goes uncredited or underappreciated.

Originally reported by Bossip