- Breakaway Pop Hit: In a way. James Brown's original score for the film was rejected by American International, who claimed that it was the same old material they heard before. Brown repackaged the soundtrack as The Payback, which sold millions of copies and was heralded as a classic of the funk genre. Meanwhile, while Harlem has its fans, most consider it to be a cheap cash-in on the goodwill built up by the original film, while Edwin Starr's score is barely remembered.
- Creator Backlash: Larry Cohen hated Hell Up in Harlem (as the production studio forced him to fast-track it after the success of the first film). He regretted ever working on it, and has taken the opportunity to slam it every chance he gets.
- Executive Meddling:
- American International Pictures forced Cohen to start filming Harlem while Caesar was still running in theatres - and it shows. For his part, Cohen admits on the DVD Commentary that Harlem was nothing but a quick cash-in.
- James Brown wrote the score for Harlem on spec (without pay), but American International inexplicably changed their minds at the last minute and rejected his score (reportedly claiming it was the "same old stuff"), instead opting to use one written and performed by Edwin Starr. Brown eventually repackaged his album as The Payback, which went certified gold and became a landmark funk album.
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