Eminem’s Ex-Studio Engineer Faces Charges for Selling Unreleased Tracks for $50K in Bitcoin

A former sound engineer who worked closely with Marshall Mathers, better known as Eminem, now finds himself at the center of a federal investigation. Joseph Strange, a 46-year-old resident of Holly, Michigan, has been charged with selling unreleased tracks from the Grammy-winning rapper for $50,000 in Bitcoin.

The accusations, detailed in a statement from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Michigan, involve the theft and distribution of at least 25 songs recorded by Eminem between 1999 and 2018. These tracks, still in development and never intended for public release, have landed Strange in hot water with authorities, who have leveled charges of criminal copyright infringement and interstate transportation of stolen goods against him.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation launched its inquiry after tips from Eminem’s studio staff pointed to the unauthorized appearance of the music on platforms like Reddit and YouTube. Court documents filed by the agency reveal that a search of Strange’s home on January 28 uncovered hard drives loaded with the stolen tracks, alongside handwritten lyric sheets penned by Eminem and a VHS tape featuring an unreleased music video.

Financial records discovered during the investigation also tied Strange to the illicit sales, painting a clear picture of his alleged actions. If found guilty, he could face up to 10 years in prison for the transportation charge and an additional five years for copyright infringement, along with a potential fine of up to $250,000.

Inside the Investigation and Studio Access

Strange’s tenure at Eminem’s studio spanned from 2007 to 2021, a period during which he was one of just four employees with direct access to the hard drives containing the rapper’s work. Authorities allege he exploited this privilege to siphon off the unreleased material.

Interestingly, one of the other individuals with access was Mike Strange, Joseph’s uncle, who remains an engineer at the studio. The FBI traced the sold tracks to a 31-year-old Canadian man from Ontario, identified as “Doja Rat,” who reportedly paid Strange $50,000 for one Bitcoin, which is now valued at $84K.

It is also stated in the affidavit that Strange was a Bitcoin miner, who he claimed was "heavily involved" in Bitcoin, even going by the name Hal Finney on his Venmo profile. In a twist, Doja Rat later admitted to investigators that he collaborated with a group of Eminem fans to gather the funds. He also claimed Strange boasted of possessing over 300 unreleased tracks and additional lyric sheets, hinting at the scale of the alleged theft.

The fallout from this breach has stirred frustration among Eminem’s team. A representative for the rapper, speaking to The Detroit Free Press, emphasized the damage inflicted by Strange’s actions, not only to Eminem’s creative legacy but also to the financial interests of the many collaborators involved in his projects over the years. This incident is not the first time Eminem’s music has surfaced without his approval. Leaks plagued the rapper in the early 2000s and 2010s, with a notable 2002 incident forcing an earlier release of “The Eminem Show” to combat piracy.