A former sound engineer for Eminem, Joseph Strange, has been charged with stealing and selling over 25 unreleased tracks by Slim Shady, according to federal prosecutors.
Strange, 46, allegedly transferred the unreleased music from Eminem’s Ferndale, Michigan, studio to external hard drives between late 2019 and early 2020. He then sold these tracks for approximately $50,000 in Bitcoin to a Canadian buyer and other enthusiasts.
Strange, who was dismissed from his position in 2021, also reportedly attempted to sell handwritten lyrics. An FBI search of his residence uncovered numerous Eminem-related items, including hard drives containing 12,000 audio files. If convicted of copyright infringement and interstate transportation of stolen goods, Strange faces up to 15 years in prison. His attorney has stated that the accusations are unverified and will be contested in court.
Joseph Strange reportedly worked for Eminem from 2007 through 2021, and employees say only four people had access to the hard drives – three sound engineers, Joseph Strange, Mike Strange and Tony Campana, and manager John Fischer.
According to the criminal complaint, Eminem contacted a business associate in the United Kingdom for assistance – Fred Nasser, known by his stage name Fredwreck. Fredwreck posted a social media post warning fans about the leaked music, and then a fan reportedly contacted Nasser about the leaks and provided screenshots of a chat between the tipster and a person using the name “Doja Rat.”
It’s alleged “Doja Rat” purchased the songs from Joseph Strange, and reportedly paid about $50,000 for the music.
Employees conducted a review of the hard drives at the Ferndale studio after they learned of the leak, and on one hard drive, they found the exact listing of songs that were posted on the internet. The hard drive had been in storage and had not been accessed in several years.
During an investigation and a review of the log, files were removed after the attachment of an external hard drive on Oct. 16, 2019 and Jan. 16, 2020, while Joseph Strange was employed at the studio.
According to prosecutors, “Doja Rat” was later identified as a person in Ontario, Canada, who worked with a group to purchase songs from Strange. They reportedly paid $50,000 in Bitcoin for the music over the course of six months for the music. “Doja Rat” told prosecutors he believes someone in the group made the music public on the internet.
The criminal complaint also lists others who purchased the music and allegedly paid Joseph Strange.
On Jan. 28, 2025, FBI agents searched Joseph Strange’s home and found numerous original hand-written lyric sheets and notes from Eminem inside a safe, a VHS tape with unreleased music and more.
Agents also found hard drives, and one of those hard drives identified approximately 12,000 audio files, some of Eminem’s music and some of the artists who were working with Eminem.
