The series is based on the true story of the Flenory brothers, Demetrius "Big Meech" and Terry "Southwest T", who built the Black Mafia Family drug trafficking organization starting in southwest Detroit in the late 1980s.

Curtis "50 Cent" Jackson began developing the television series about Black Mafia Family in July 2019 and executive produces it for Starz, with Starz officially greenlighting the show in April 2020.

Starz renewed the series for a second season just four days after its premiere, a remarkably quick renewal decision.

Demetrius Flenory Jr., son of the real-life Big Meech, was cast to play his own father in the leading role.

Rapper Snoop Dogg joined the cast as Pastor Swift, while Eminem made a cameo appearance as real-life drug dealer White Boy Rick in season 1.

Several musicians made notable cameo or recurring appearances, including 2 Chainz and Ne-Yo in season 3, and Lil Baby as a recurring character named Payne.

Principal photography began in January 2021, with filming taking place on location in both Atlanta and Detroit.

During production of season 3 in June 2023, producer Ian Woolf was suspended by Lionsgate after allegedly threatening to run over striking writers who were picketing outside the show's production facility, and reportedly tried unsuccessfully to convince Teamsters to cross the picket line.