A recent lawsuit alleges that Drake’s hit song “Janice STFU” features a stolen hook, which the Toronto rapper’s team vehemently refutes. The legal claim, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California on October 16, asserts that the chorus was penned by Aviel (Avi) Hirschfield, a Grammy Award-winning hip-hop artist and producer who had collaborated with Drake in the past.

According to the lawsuit, Hirschfield drew inspiration for the lyrics and melody while driving a borrowed luxury Maybach to Seattle, listening to “I Follow Rivers” by Lykke Li, an artist previously sampled by Drake. Allegedly, Hirschfield recorded a demo of the chorus with his vocals over a track produced by the duo FnZ, known for their collaborations with Drake, hoping it would reach the Toronto rapper.

The lawsuit claims that Hirschfield was shocked to hear Drake perform an identical chorus to the one he had recorded, sent to FnZ, and other Drake-affiliated producers. Drake’s team has refuted these allegations, stating they are entirely untrue.

The comparison between Hirschfield’s leaked version and Drake’s official release of “Janice STFU” has sparked interest. The song debuted at No. 1 on both the Billboard Global 200 and the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 charts, marking Drake’s 14th chart-topping track and breaking his tie with Michael Jackson for the most No. 1 hits by a male solo artist.

In response to the song’s impact on individuals named Janice, Drake hosted a series of apology parties. Despite the controversy, Hirschfield did not receive co-writing credit or a portion of the song’s profits. Drake’s representatives have denied any knowledge or connection to Hirschfield, dismissing the accusations as baseless. Universal Music Group, a co-defendant in the lawsuit, declined to comment on the ongoing legal matter.