In the hubbub of government raids and hackers retaliating against the shuttering of Megaupload by shutting down loads of federal and media company websites, we failed to mention one intriguing detail of the Megaupload story: Producer and husband of Alicia Keys Swizz Beatz apparently was a silent partner in Megaupload and the company's CEO. While a collective "huh?" could be heard across the music industry at the news, this does explain that odd star-studded promotional video (though not the involvement of Kim Kardashian) from a while back. Beatz was not among those arrested yesterday, however, and has not yet spoken about the raid publicly. So far four people, including founder Kim Dotcom, have been taken into custody. (Dotcom also had a ton of luxury cars seized) Three other Megaupload operators remain at large. Each person is charged with five counts of copyright infringement and piracy and faces more than 20 years in prison. [via Rolling Stone]
UPDATE: Venture Beat talked to Megaupload's attorney Ira Rothken, who says that Swizz Beatz "was negotiating to become the CEO, but it was never official," and that "to my knowledge, Swizz Beatz was never involved in any meaningful way" with the company. Beatz was not mentioned once in the 72-page indictment filed yesterday against Megaupload.