The film was originally titled Busted Pipes in 1996. Then, in an effort to create urban appeal, the film was retitled Crak'd Pipes. In 2104, William Lee re wrote the script, and devised the name Bad Fellas .
In 1997, William Lee was diagnosed with systemic Lupus. As part of his treatment, he was given chemotherapeutic medicine. While under chemotherapy, he wrote the bulk of the film's script,often creating entire sequences in the midst a medically induced haze.