Shivangi Sinha
In February 2010, Blake Robbins’ parents filed a lawsuit on his behalf against the Lower Merion School District. As a result, the court ordered the district to notify all students whose photographs had been taken through the school-issued laptops. One of the students who received such a notification was Jalil Hasan, a senior at the same school. In Prime Video’s ‘Spy High,’ Jalil recounted the events and shared his experience of what unfolded when the issue came to light. He spoke openly and candidly about what he went through.
Jalil Hasan Alleged That His School Had Violated His Privacy
Jalil Hasan was born in West Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, but his mother wanted him to have access to a better education. Believing the Lower Merion School District offered the best opportunities, she decided to move close to it for his sake. Jalil had always been a creative individual, and he reflected on his experiences at the school. He spoke about the alleged microaggressions he faced as an African American student in a predominantly white institution and shared what it was like growing up in that environment. He admitted that he wasn’t a particularly dedicated student, as his interests leaned more toward the creative side. He described himself as just getting by and wanting to complete his schooling without much enthusiasm for academics.
This is why Jalil said he didn’t think much of it when the green light on his school-issued MacBook started turning on. However, in July 2010, when he received a notice from the school stating that the laptop had been used to take photos of him at home and capture screenshots of his screen, his mother became alarmed. The notice was sent following a court order requiring the school to inform all students who had been allegedly surveilled, which stemmed from Blake Robbins’ lawsuit against the district. On July 27, 2010, Jalil’s mother filed a civil lawsuit against the school district for invasion of privacy. In his complaint, it was alleged that after Jalil’s laptop had been misplaced and returned to the school office by one of his teachers, the IT department installed tracking software on the device.
This software had allegedly been recording his activities, including taking photographs without his knowledge. The complaint further alleged that he had been tracked for nearly two months, and the surveillance only stopped once the Robbins case became public. It was alleged that all the images and recordings were eventually deleted. According to the school district’s own notice, 469 photographs and 543 screenshots were taken from his laptop—some of which were captured at his home in Ardmore, Pennsylvania. The lawsuit was settled in October 2010, with Jalil receiving a $10,000 settlement and was allegedly asked to sign a non-disclosure agreement. Though he has said that it felt like it was a relatively small settlement, he had made no further financial claims.
Jalil Hasan is Working Towards Making His Mark as a Rapper Today
Since graduating in 2011, Jalil Hasan has remained in Philadelphia, where he has been pursuing his lifelong dream of building a career in music under the name Mrkhuul. With a deep passion for rap, he dedicated himself to learning the craft, refining his voice, and expressing his truth through lyrics. In March 2020, he released his debut single, “Ride Around,” marking the beginning of his journey as a recording artist. Since then, he has consistently worked on his music, carving out his space as an up-and-coming rapper with a message. His discography includes standout tracks and EPs like “The Light,” “Fuc Em,” “Black,” “Moment,” and “Play.”
Through his music, Jalil speaks about his personal experiences—growing up as a young Black man in a predominantly white community, facing microaggressions, overcoming adversity, and finding identity and strength through self-expression. He understands the importance of marketing his music in today’s digital world and has been actively promoting his work across various online platforms. From Instagram and YouTube to TikTok, he keeps his followers updated on new releases, behind-the-scenes content, and upcoming projects, ensuring his fans stay connected and engaged. His latest EP, “The Light,” which dropped in June 2024, has been well-received and marks a significant step forward in his artistic journey.
Since then, Jalil has been working on fresh material—hinting at new sounds and stories that continue to evolve his style. His music is available to stream on Spotify, Apple Music, and SoundCloud, and the accompanying music videos bring his tracks to life, adding just the right amount of visual flair and attitude. Outside of his professional life, he prefers to keep things low-key. He values his privacy and keeps his personal life largely out of the spotlight, letting his music speak for itself.
Read More: Blake Robbins: Where is the Former Merion School District Student Now?
