Mekhi Phifer, who played Lem, was at one point married to Malinda Williams, who plays Bird in the cable series.
Vanessa Williams iconic "The family fucked my husband" scene was improvised, everyone's reaction was real and genuine.
Vanessa Williams was working on the film Les seigneurs de Harlem (1997) at the same time as this film. Since both movies were being filmed in Chicago, Williams would work on both films on different days.
Vanessa Williams, Vivica A. Fox, and Nia Long all previously appeared in Le prince de Bel-Air (1990) as three very different love interests of Will Smith's character.
Director/writer George Tillman auditioned three people for the role of chef and food stylist on the production, not only did he interview them but he also taste-tested their food. He ended up picking Freddie Petros from the Westside of Chicago, who he said cooked in the same style and way as his grandmother. He went to her home and watched her cook in her kitchen and also sat at her table with her family.