Did Eminem’s Lost Tracks Just Sell for $50K in Bitcoin? Ex-Engineer in Hot Water!

Joseph Strange, a former sound engineer for American rapper Eminem, has been accused of copyright infringement and interstate transportation of stolen property. Strange, 46, allegedly leaked and sold unreleased Eminem tracks in return for $50,000 worth of Bitcoin (BTC). His activities breached a severance deal that forbade him from sharing the artist’s music.

Allegations Against Joseph Strange

According to The New York Times, Strange worked for Eminem’s Ferndale, Michigan studio for four years before he got terminated in 2021. During his time there, he was privy to several unreleased songs that were recorded between 1999 and 2018. Prosecutors claim that after termination, he sold 25 songs to a Canadian buyer in 2024 without the consent of Eminem or Interscope Records.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Michigan subsequently indicted Strange, who is now facing serious legal consequences that could land him a 10-year jail term if convicted.

Discovery of the Leak

The unauthorized sharing of Eminem’s unreleased songs was brought to light when existing studio staff saw the music being shared on sites such as YouTube and Reddit. Fearing the leaks, the staff identified the songs as ones kept on locked hard drives at the Ferndale studio.

A Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) affidavit verified that the leaked material was on these hard drives, which are offline for security purposes. This raised suspicion that the music had been illegally ripped and sold.

Investigation and Tip-Off

Eminem’s camp was quick to act on the leak by sending a warning on social media, reminding fans not to share the track leaks. This notice prompted a key tip-off from an anonymous informant, who revealed a Canadian national as the purchaser of the hijacked music.

The Canadian purchaser confessed to buying the tracks from Strange early in 2024 with Bitcoin. In addition, the purchaser revealed that the cryptocurrency had been contributed by a group of fans of the rapper willing to hear the unreleased content.

FBI Raid and Legal Proceedings

After the leaks, the FBI initiated an investigation, which culminated in a raid on Strange’s home in January. The agents found Eminem’s original handwritten lyric pages and other possible incriminating evidence during the search.

Strange, acting through his lawyer, has indicated that he will contest the allegations in court. His defence team claims that he will pursue “justice and fairness” in the process of law. But with the seriousness of the charges against him, he has serious legal challenges in front of him.

Conclusion

The case serves to underscore the increasing worry about intellectual property theft in the age of the Internet. Despite growing security protocols, artists and record labels continue to fight against unauthorized leaks and defend their work. Strange’s future, for the time being, is left in the hands of the judicial system, where he will be forced to answer for his crimes.