Eminem's Former Sound Engineer Charged with Stealing and Selling Unreleased Music
A former sound engineer for Eminem has been charged with federal crimes for allegedly stealing and selling unreleased music from the rapper's vault. Joseph Strange, 45, who worked with Eminem from 2007 to 2021, faces charges of criminal copyright infringement and interstate transportation of stolen goods.
Eminem wearing black jacket, looking serious
Photo Credit: Eminem by EJ Hersom for DoD News Features / CC by 2.0
The FBI investigation began in January when Eminem's studio employees in Ferndale discovered unreleased music online. They also found an image of a confidential song list taken from a protected hard drive. The studio's security measures included password protection and a safe, with access limited to only four individuals, including Strange.
According to the criminal complaint, Strange allegedly sold the stolen music to someone using the name "Doja Rat" for approximately $50,000 in Bitcoin. The transaction was discovered after Eminem's associate Fredwreck posted a warning about leaked music on social media, prompting a fan to come forward with evidence.
During a search of Strange's home, FBI agents discovered:
- Handwritten lyrics and notes from Eminem
- A VHS tape containing unreleased music
- Additional evidence in a safe
Eminem's spokesperson, Dennis Dennehy, emphasized that the leaked songs were unfinished studio experiments never intended for public release. He noted that the damage to Eminem's artistic legacy and the financial impact on collaborators is significant.
Acting US Attorney Julie Beck stressed the importance of protecting intellectual property rights, while FBI Special Agent Cheyvoryea Gibson confirmed their commitment to preventing illegal exploitation of artists' work.