A former sound engineer for rapper Eminem was charged on Wednesday with leaking and selling the artist’s unreleased music online for approximately $50,000 in Bitcoin, according to federal prosecutors.
Joseph Strange, 46, of Holly, Michigan, worked at Eminem’s studio in Ferndale, near Detroit, for four years before losing his job in 2021, court records reveal. As part of his severance agreement, he was explicitly prohibited from electronically distributing Eminem’s work, according to an F.B.I. affidavit.
Prosecutors allege that Strange sold around 25 songs written by Eminem between 1999 and 2018 that were still in development. These tracks were subsequently played, shared, or sold online without the consent of Eminem or Interscope Capital Labels Group, which owns his music, as stated in court documents.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Michigan has charged Strange with copyright infringement and interstate transportation of stolen goods.
Authorities became aware of the illegal leaks and sales in January after current employees at Eminem’s studio discovered that his music was being played online, appearing on platforms such as Reddit and YouTube, according to court records. Recognizing the tracks as unreleased versions, they reported the matter to the F.B.I.
“They were able to identify the music as having been stored on hard drives in the studio in Ferndale,” the F.B.I. affidavit states. “These hard drives are not connected to the internet for security reasons.”
The affidavit also notes that these hard drives are password-protected and stored in a safe when not in use. From 2007 to 2021, only four employees had access to them, with Strange being the only one no longer employed at the studio.
EminemAfter Eminem, whose real name is Marshall Mathers III, was informed about the leaks, one of his employees issued a social media warning urging fans not to circulate the unauthorized music. In response, an anonymous tipster contacted the F.B.I., revealing that they had participated in online chats with an Eminem fan using the screen name Doja Rat.
Doja Rat, a 31-year-old man from Ontario, Canada, told investigators that he had purchased 25 unreleased Eminem songs from Strange for approximately $50,000 in Bitcoin, beginning in the summer of 2024.
Doja Rat further disclosed that he had raised the funds through a group of Eminem fans. He also claimed that Strange had told him he possessed more than 300 recorded songs and handwritten lyric sheets created by Eminem.
Following a search warrant executed at Strange’s home, the F.B.I. discovered numerous original handwritten lyric sheets by Eminem secured in a safe.
According to a special agent, they also found a VHS tape of an unreleased music video. The F.B.I. stated that an image of this tape had been shared with both Doja Rat and a buyer from Connecticut.
Wade Fink, Strange’s attorney, stated on Thursday afternoon, “Mr. Strange is a family man and dedicated professional who will seek justice and fairness in the courtroom.”
In a statement, representative for Eminem said, “The significant damage caused by a trusted employee to Eminem’s artistic legacy and creative integrity cannot be overstated, let alone the enormous financial losses incurred by the many creators and collaborators that deserve protection for their decades of work.”
If convicted of interstate transportation of stolen goods, Strange faces a prison sentence of up to 10 years. Additionally, on the charge of criminal copyright infringement, he could face up to five years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000.
