Today we’d like to introduce you to Jailan Drake.
Hi Jailan, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
My name is Jailan Drake, a 26-year-old creative from Detroit who’s been figuring out how to turn ideas into real things since I first picked up a camera. I’ve always had big visions, but over the past few years I’ve really started bringing them to life — from producing my own late-night show to building a fashion brand and creating opportunities for other people around me.
A lot of what I do started with curiosity. I wanted to see what Detroit would look like with its own late-night platform, something that felt like us — our culture, our artistry, our energy. With a small team and a lot of consistency, I produced the first season of Detroit’s Late Night Show, something I’m proud to say became the first of its kind in the city. It’s given me the chance to highlight other creatives, tell stories, and contribute to the type of entertainment I always wished existed here.
Outside the show, I run a photography and videography business, which opened even more doors for me as a creator and entrepreneur. I’ve worked with brands, artists, and local businesses, and recently one of the biggest moments for me was when HYMAN reached out — my first real sponsorship opportunity. It reminded me that what I’m building is starting to resonate beyond my circle.
I’m also the founder of Bunniskii, a clothing brand I started by hand-making pieces one at a time. It grew into a full creative campaign called “Who Is Bunni?”, blending storytelling, fashion, and character work. That project taught me that my ideas don’t have to stay small — they can expand into whole worlds if I give them space.
Community work matters to me too. I taught a fashion class for youth on the spectrum, helping them put on their own fashion shows from scratch. Watching them take ownership of something creative just confirmed that this is the type of work I want to be part of — things that leave an impact.
My story isn’t finished, but right now it’s about building — building platforms, building brands, building discipline, and building a legacy in Detroit. I’m creating things I wish existed when I was younger, and I’m proud that the work is starting to speak for itself.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Self doubt has always been a big thing for me, when I was younger I use to think I didn’t have a creative bone in my body, it took me to have to take a art class to pass highschool for me to realize my talent, as we all know being a creative is “ghetto” and it’s a lot of ins and outs to the game you don’t realize until your in it, I’ve been in tons of groups that didn’t go anywhere or I never felt I truly had a input which made me want to create something for myself, I always new I was suppose to be apart of something and it took me to regain confidence in myself for me to realize I can make something I could be apart of
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I like to see myself as a producer/ creative director, I love puting together visually captivating projects I’m mostly known for my photography and the Detroitslatwnightshow and I’m most proud of that because it’s everything I’ve always wanted to do and more
Can you talk to us about how you think about risk?
I spent a lot of my beginning years sacrificing things like a car, a home (lived with my mom) and plenty of other things puting all of my resources into my craft, a lot of the time I had no promise of return but I always took the risk on chance of connection knowing that connection will bring everything that I’m looking for
Pricing:
- $200 for photography
- $250 to get a segment on the LATENIGHT show
- $250 + for any production needs
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/detroits.latenight.show?igsh=MTBlMHFxc2prcnllaA%3D%3D&utm_source=qr
- Youtube: https://youtu.be/O4o6wFBJMAY?si=xn9tQ0In2p8DQFaw
