The title refers to a Newark, New Jersey neighborhood known as The Ironbound. It is also referred to as "Down Neck" because of how the Passaic River curves around it looking somewhat like a neck.
The only one of the 86 "Sopranos" episodes directed by a woman.
One of the young Black Newark kids chasing little Tony Soprano is Michael B. Jordan who would grew up to be featured in The Wire (2002), and as an adult found stardom with roles in Fruitvale Station (2013), Fantastic Four (2015), and Black Panther (2018).
12 minutes 33 seconds into the episode, during Tony's therapy session, the lighting and colors drastically alter for no apparent reason and remain changed until the scene ends.
The South Park (1997) episode AJ talks about is Cartman Gets an Anal Probe (1997), the very first episode of the long-running series.