Nick Cannon did his own drumming on screen while his double, Jason Price, did majority of the close-ups with complex techniques.
Leonard Roberts, who plays Sean, was actually very sick when the last scenes of the "BET southern classic" were filmed, which is why he is so sweaty and looks slightly weak at the end of the film.
While Morris Brown is a real college in Atlanta, there is no real Atlanta A&T. The filming was done at Clark Atlanta University in Atlanta and at Morris Brown. The performers (aside from those from Morris Brown) were recruited from high school and university bands all over the Atlanta and Metro Atlanta area. High school band director Don Roberts was recruited to turn the performers into real, convincing bands.
In the movie Nick Cannons character says that he doesn't have a lot of kids running around. As of May 2023 he has 12 kids, by several different women.
Nick Cannon prepared for his role by practicing in a hotel suite with his double and drummer, Jason Price, as well as sleeping with the drumsticks tied to his hands.