John Leguizamo originally wanted to play Johnny as being street-smart and wearing the latest urban fashion. But Vasquez insisted that Johnny be an innocent character. Leguizamo originally could not believe that a young man from the ghetto could be so innocent until Vasquez revealed that that part of Johnny was based on himself.
During production, director Joseph B. Vasquez was attacked on the way to the set. His face was slashed by a homeless man. According to an interview with Nestor Serrano, when Vasquez returned to work after recuperating he was angry and "intolerable", often fighting with the cast and crew.
A sequel titled "Hangin' With the Homegirls" was planned but never came to fruition.
Willie was partially based on writer-director Joseph B. Vasquez. Vasquez was of Afro-Puerto Rican descent. According to Vasquez, whenever he was turned down for a job he would say "It's 'cause I'm black, right?"