David Simon recruited the corner boys that were the subject of his book and mini series 'The Corner' as extras to play the corner drug dealers in the background. When told what the director wanted them to do as far as acting, they told him that he had it all wrong and schooled him on how a real drug corner operated.
This episode provided an early role (and the first television role) for Jake Gyllenhaal, who was 12 at the time. He had already been in a few movies, most of which (like this episode) were directed by his father, Stephen Gyllenhaal.
Although NBC aired this episode first during the short second season, it appears fourth on the DVD of the series.