Songwriter Aviel Calev Hirschfield sues Drake over Janice STFU demo

Songwriter Aviel Calev Hirschfield has sued Drake, claiming that his demo version was used for the song Janice STFU and demanding a share of its income. Billboard reported the lawsuit, according to Dutch outlet NU.nl, which relayed the magazine's coverage. Drake's team denies the claims.

Janice STFU was released in May and spent two weeks at number one on the Billboard Hot 100.

What Hirschfield alleges

According to the account reported by NU.nl, Hirschfield says he received an audio file from the writing duo Finatik n Zac (FNZ) and began working on it. He says he heard nothing more from the pair after sending them his demo in January.

FNZ did go on to work on Janice STFU. Hirschfield says his demo was used in identical form in Drake's song. He has previously worked with Drake on Heated, a track by Beyoncé.

Drake's response

Billboard reports that Drake's team contests the allegations strongly. Its statement, as relayed by NU.nl, says the team denies the accusations emphatically, unequivocally and completely.

Hirschfield says Drake's team contends that he altered the metadata of his audio file so that it would appear to have been made for Janice STFU. That account of the defence comes from Hirschfield, not from a statement by Drake's side.

What is not yet known

The source material does not say where the case was filed, what sum Hirschfield is seeking or what the next steps in the proceedings will be. The claims on both sides are allegations and counter-allegations, and neither has been tested or established.

NU.nl describes Drake as a 39-year-old Canadian rapper. This article relies on NU.nl's reporting of Billboard's coverage and has not independently verified the claims.