A former sound engineer for Eminem is facing serious legal trouble after allegedly stealing and selling unreleased music from the legendary rapper. Federal prosecutors in Michigan have charged 46-year-old Joseph Strange with copyright infringement and interstate transportation of stolen goods after an FBI investigation uncovered thousands of audio files, handwritten lyrics, and other exclusive material in his possession.
According to federal authorities, Strange, 46, worked as a sound engineer at Eminem’s studio in Ferndale, Michigan, for nearly 14 years before being let go in 2021. Despite leaving the job, prosecutors say he held onto sensitive materials—including unreleased songs and handwritten lyrics—without authorization.
The FBI launched an investigation in January 2025 after unreleased Eminem tracks surfaced on online forums like Reddit and YouTube. Studio employees raised alarms when they heard unfinished songs they knew had never been publicly released.
According to the FBI affidavit, Strange accessed password-protected hard drives, transferred files to an external drive, and sold them online.
A Canadian buyer, using the alias “Doja Rat,” admitted purchasing the tracks from Strange. He revealed that the sale was part of a group effort among Eminem’s die-hard fans, who pooled their money to acquire the unreleased songs. Another fan, known online as “ATL” from Connecticut, bought a handful of tracks for around $1,000.
“I knew it was risky, but these songs were gold, The chance to own something no one else had was too tempting to pass up.”
Doja Rat told investigators.
According to the criminal complaint filed on March 19, 2025, Strange received approximately $50,000 in Bitcoin for the stolen content.
Investigators traced the transactions back to Strange, leading to a raid on his home on January 28, 2025. During the search, FBI agents uncovered a treasure trove of stolen content:
- 12,000 audio files, including Eminem’s unfinished songs
- Handwritten lyrics and notes from Eminem
- A VHS tape containing unreleased footage of the rapper
The charges against Strange include severe penalties, emphasizing the music industry’s ongoing battle to protect intellectual property. In addition to violating copyright laws, Strange allegedly breached a severance agreement he signed when leaving the studio in 2021. That agreement explicitly prohibited him from distributing Eminem’s work in any form.
Acting U.S. Attorney Julie Beck stressed the significance of this case, stating,
“Intellectual property theft is not just a financial crime—it’s a violation of an artist’s creative process. Protecting artists and their work is a priority.”
Music industry professionals have echoed this sentiment. Detroit-based producer Hilton Wright compared music theft to home burglary, saying,
“When someone steals a song, it’s like they stole your house. Once it’s out there, it’s damaged goods.”
A global hip-hop icon, Eminem has built a career on powerful lyrics and a relentless work ethic. Fans see this theft as a violation of the rapper’s rights and a disruption of his creative process.
“Eminem’s music means so much to Detroit,” said one fan. “He’s more than just an artist—he’s part of this city’s identity. It’s sad to see someone so close to him betray that trust.”
As Strange prepares to face trial, the case is a cautionary tale for the music industry. If convicted, strange could spend up to 15 years in prison, setting a strong precedent for future intellectual property theft cases.
Eminem and his team now focus on reinforcing security and ensuring his unreleased music remains protected. Fans, meanwhile, are left wondering what could have been—if those stolen tracks were meant for a future album or left unfinished, never to be completed by the artist himself.
