This is (sort of) a prequel to American Gangster (2007) starring Denzel Washington. In that movie, Washington portrays Frank Lucas, who, in real life, ends up seizing control of the Harlem heroin market and all of Harlem from the 'retiring' Bumpy Johnson portrayed by Forest Whitaker in this series. However, in American Gangster (2007), he was portrayed by Clarence Williams III who is best known for the role of Lincoln 'Linc' Hayes on Twen-Police (1968).
This is the second time Nigel Thatch portrays Malcolm X after previously portraying him on Selma (2014).
Creators Chris Brancato and Paul Eckstein had previously written and/or produced Harlem, N.Y.C. - Der Preis der Macht (1997), a film that is about "Bumpy" Johnson in the 1930s.
The filming location for the church that Powell preaches at was "St. Luke A.M.E. Church" located in Harlem NY.
This is the second collaboration between Giancarlo Esposito and Chazz Palminteri after appearing together on Die üblichen Verdächtigen (1995).