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A former employee of Eminem has been charged with criminal copyright infringement and interstate transportation of stolen goods for allegedly leaking the rapper’s music online.
The employee has been identified as Joseph Strange who worked with the Grammy-award-winning artist from 2007 to 2021, according to a report in Rolling Stones. On January 16, 2025, the FBI was contacted by one of the employees at Eminem’s studio in Ferndale, Michigan.
They found that Eminem’s (whose real name is Marshall Bruce Mathers III) unreleased music was leaked online and was available for sale. Upon further examination, they discovered an image that displayed the list of the songs which according to the staff was taken from a hard drive in the studio. As per a press release, the music was still in the developing stage.
"Protecting intellectual property from thieves is critical in safeguarding the exclusive rights of creators and protecting their original work from reproduction and distribution by individuals who seek to profit from the creative output of others," said United States Attorney Julie Beck.
Strange could face a maximum penalty of five years in prison along with a fine of up to $250,000 if convicted on the charge of criminal infringement of a copyright, indicated a report in Rolling Stones.
Who were the other individuals reportedly identified by the FBI in the Eminem leaks?
According to Variety, in addition to Joseph Strange the FBI has identified several other individuals who were involved with the leak of Eminem's unreleased music.
One person is named, Doja Rat who reportedly paid Joseph Strange $50,000 for the unreleased songs. Rat also claimed that Strange had over 300 songs along with handwritten lyric sheets available for sale.
Other individuals involved in purchasing Eminem's unreleased music include Kali Kush and ATL.
The report mentioned that when the FBI searched Strange's residence on January 28, 2025, they discovered records of payments being made to Strange for the music sold.
However, Strange's attorney Wade Fink told The Associated Press, that Strange is a married father of two “with decades of dedication to the music industry.″ He called the charges, "untested allegations" that have not been questioned yet by the jury or a judge.
While speaking to Variety, Eminem’s longtime spokesperson Dennis Dennehy said:
“Eminem and his team are very appreciative of the efforts by the FBI Detroit bureau for its thorough investigation which led to the charges against Joe Strange.”
He added,
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“The significant damage caused by a trusted employee to Eminem’s artistic legacy and creative integrity cannot be overstated, let alone the enormous financial losses incurred by the many creators and collaborators that deserve protection for their decades of work. We will continue to take any and all steps necessary to protect Eminem’s art and will stop at nothing to do so.”
A report in USA Today stated that a total of 25 unreleased Eminem songs were leaked online in January 2025, without his consent. They were reportedly recorded by the rapper between 1999 and 2018.
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