Rapper’s Secret Music Leaked and Sold Online by a Former Eminem Employee

Federal prosecutors said Wednesday that a former Eminem studio engineer has been accused with stealing the rapper’s unreleased music and selling it online.

Joseph Strange, 46, of Holly, Michigan, is accused with interstate transportation of stolen goods and copyright infringement.

Acting U.S. Attorney Julie Beck claims that Strange illegally released 25 songs that were kept on password-protected hard drives from Eminem’s studio in the Detroit suburb of Ferndale online.

Online Leak of Eminem’s Unreleased Music

According to investigators, Eminem’s unfinished music appeared on a number of websites, including YouTube and Reddit. In January, when studio staff discovered leaks of unreleased recordings, the FBI launched an investigation.

In late 2019 and early 2020, while still working as a sound engineer, Strange reportedly moved files to an external device from a secure hard drive in the studio’s safe, according to an affidavit.

Investigators learned that a Canadian resident using by the pseudonym “Doja Rat” paid almost $50,000 in Bitcoin to Strange for 25 unreleased recordings. He said that a group of ardent Eminem fans helped him raise the funds. Another buyer from Connecticut who goes by the name “ATL” also apparently paid about $1,000 for a “couple” of tunes.

Investigators claim that Strange tried to make money off of handwritten Eminem lyric sheets in addition to selling music.
Strange might spend up to 15 years behind bars if found guilty.

A Secret Treasure Found During an FBI Raid

Authorities allegedly discovered a cache of Eminem-related items, including scribbled lyrics, notes, and even a VHS tape with an unreleased music video, during an FBI raid on Strange’s house in January.

Investigators also found hard drives with 12,000 audio files, some of which included Eminem and other collaborators’ music in different stages of production.

Fred Nassar, Eminem’s business associate, had previously cautioned fans against sharing the leaked songs, which led the FBI to locate buyers and dealers connected to the case.

As prosecutors stress the need to protect artists’ intellectual property, a former Eminem employee refutes the allegations.

Wade Fink, Strange’s lawyer, reacted to the accusations by referring to them as “untested allegations” and stressing that neither a judge nor a grand jury had examined them. Fink told the Associated Press, “We have great faith in the judges of our district, and we will handle the matter in a courtroom.”

Strange signed a severance agreement that specifically forbade him from releasing Eminem’s work electronically, even though he was fired from the studio in 2021.

Julie Beck, the acting U.S. attorney, emphasized the need of safeguarding the intellectual property of artists. “Preserving the exclusive rights of creators and preventing their original work from being copied and distributed by those looking to make money off of others’ creative output requires protecting intellectual property from thieves,” she said.

The Legacy and Continued Success of Eminem

Eminem has left an incomparable legacy in the music business. Marshall Mathers III, one of the all-time best-selling musicians, has redefined rap music’s lyrical intricacy, narrative, and emotional depth, leaving a lasting impression on hip-hop and popular culture.

With the release of “The Slim Shady LP” in 1999, he first became well-known, showcasing his intriguing yet contentious persona. He received a Grammy for Best Rap Album for the album, which launched a career that would go down in history. His subsequent efforts, “The Eminem Show” (2002) and “The Marshall Mathers LP” (2000), solidified his place among the most accomplished and significant rappers of his generation. These albums demonstrated his unadulterated narrative skills, challenged hip-hop boundaries, and set sales records.

Eminem’s catalog has developed over time, addressing very personal subjects like addiction, celebrity, and atonement. A major return, his 2010 album “Recovery” chronicled his battles with substance misuse and his victory over personal demons. The album won the Grammy for Best Rap Album and featured Rihanna in huge songs including “Love the Way You Lie.”

From Oscars to Induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame

Eminem’s impact goes beyond music to include business, philanthropy, and movies. He became the first rapper to win an Academy Award for Best Original Song (“Lose Yourself”) for his semi-autobiographical film “8 Mile” (2002). Through the Marshall Mathers Foundation, he has also contributed to his hometown of Detroit and supported a number of charitable projects.

Eminem’s induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2022 is evidence of his enduring impact on culture and music. By recognizing his contributions to hip-hop and the larger musical world, the induction cemented his status as one of the greatest artists in history.