The captain's name is Walter Hill, director of the 48 Hrs. films which also feature a white cop and a black sidekick.
The article James is reading on his phone while he's waiting for Kareem to get out of school is by "M. Neufeld", who is the movie's graphic designer, Melina Humphries, who at that time was using the last name Neufeld.
Terrence Little Gardenhigh's debut.
There is a reference to Tarentino's Reservoir Dogs when Chow's ear gets cut off by the gangsters.
There is a reference to Point Break when Coffee lays on the floor screaming and fires his gun in the air.