a brand alalysis of the 5-N-O Crew marketing efforts

What does "5 N O" stand for?

Well if you're not playing rugby this week-end I hope you will be able to watch some of the World Cup. In ten minutes the England game starts. I'm more than a little nervous about the fly half!

"I'll join this conversation on the proviso that we stop bitching about people talking about wigs, dresses, bust sizes, penises, drugs, night clubs, and bloody Abba!"

Btw, the subject line of this post literally made me laugh out loud in the middle of my office. People turned and gawked at me. It was awesome.

Fortunately I don't know about the "5 N O" gang, so that's good. But let's face it, their branding sucks. Maybe if they had like a white chalk outline about their name I'd know what they are selling (crack), and where you will eventually end up (dead). Sorry to hear about your crime problems. My building in Dupont has been broken into twice now in three weeks. And not even broken into, I think they scammed their way inside (behind someone else, or when a stupid maintenance person props the door open!). Crime sucks.

I think you're right the in DC people put up with crap that wouldn't be tolerated elsewhere. But life elsewhere isn't nirvana - getting rid of gang activity anywhere isn't easy.

Still, I remember after I left being amazed by things like the garbage getting picked up, and then being amazed that my expectations were so low.

Too right about Prince and his mighty fine funky backlog. 'Bout time he got back with the REVLOUTION!!

I was really bummed when I saw the story about Prince on CNN this morning. Jesus, Prince, you're not losing money because people who love your work want to see the video of "Automatic" from 1982 that is not available for sale ANYWHERE. Here's an idea, you sell the video, and I'll buy it. You'd make even more money to add to the obscene amount you already have, AND I get to see a cool video. Grrrr. He can make being his fan so much work.

cause I'm too lazy to email it:

http://www.somethingawful.com/d/news/wizard-spa-magic.php

Um, I would venture to say that crime, gangs, violence and apathy/submission is pretty common in most of the top 100 largest cities in the country, not just DC.

OK, that's scary. Poor Miss Ida doesn't live too far from me in Cincinnati.

So, wait. You literally wrote on this blog: "I like to suck cock." Then you get upset when someone calls you a "faggot".

Come on. I like to fuck pussy, but I don't go around publishing that fact next to a picture of my face, for the whole world to see.

Being gay doesn't automatically make you cool. (but you do seem like a good guy, despite the cognitive dissonance you are experiencing.)

The fact that you aren't 100% vested in your neighborhood (and thus your own safety) because you're "a renter" literally makes you a part of the problem. Go all the way, Jimbo, come over to our side and stake a 100% claim in your neighborhood. A neighborhood that, by rights, should be a safe place for a gay man to walk the streets alone. (seriously)

>>>What does "5 N O" stand for?

I don't know. that's one branding error: no instant recognition. But it might mean "Fifth & North of O" Crew?" If I were to put the logo on a nice polo shirt featuring stripes of this season's bold primary colors, I'd make the monogram 5thNofO on the collar. The crew really needs a good fontographer to do their work, with good spacing between the letters, in a consistent font.

"Then you get upset when someone calls you a "faggot"."

Yeah, I'm not one of those gays who owns the word 'faggot', so I don't use it on myself or my friends in the same fashion others would use the 'n' word on their people.

"...you're "a renter" literally makes you a part of the problem"

Well I'm a good renter. I sweep the front sidewalk and resucitated the former cesspool, now an ecological paradise free of mosquitoes (there's guppies in there too, breeding like mad). Anyway, I do plan on being involved, cuz I live here to and don't like shooting.

Someone should start doing a "Priscilla Sing-a-Long"

FYI - the county property/tax assessor's website should list the owner of title of whatever property is in that county.

Jimbo would the baby guppies live well in my rain barrel or do they need more sunlight?
Also Tyler, Jimbo is a good renter living in various parts of the hood since I've known him. And there are good renters out there who go above and beyond and do more (like sweeping the whole sidewalk) than several homeowner/investors I know.

From experience, I think you are right Jimbo that the "5NO" refers to points on a street grid. I was on the jury for the "M Street Crew" that operated around 18th and M Streets NE circa 2002 - 2004. They were selling PCP.

I would guess, however, that the "N" means "and" and not "North."

I'm just glad I didn't over pay for that two bedroom condo on 6th and P now.

"I've noticed that there is a certain accepted level of cultural barbarism in Washington, DC that would not be tolerated anywhere else in the country."
----

I could not agree more, but don't forget your neighbor to the north - Bloodymore, Murdaland. The level of cultural barbarism here is astonishing. If I wasn't a native of Baltimore and didn't live here, I'd never believe the stories people tell about this city. We're at 208 murders right now. Put in perspective, if Baltimore were the same size as the five New York boroughs, we'd have 1,664 murders as of today. And yet no one seems to be freaking out about Baltimore. I probably should be freaking out that I'm not freaking out, but I'm too busy ducking for cover when I take out the trash.

"5 N O" means the crew that hangs out at the corner of 5th and O Sts. If they are tagging near 5th & Q, this could be related to the recent shooting. According to Mr. Leroy Thorpe (back before I was on his shit list), the 5th and O gang is much more hardcore than the 5th and Q boys, who don't do much more than get wasted and tag the alleys.

I seriously doubt that Ms. Ida Carter lives at her mailing address. It says "C/O", so that's probably the address of her lawyer or property manager or conservator.

Jason, it would be pretty funny if you would go over to Unit 3 and complain about the gangbangers and trash.

Tyler, you're either an asshole or an idiot. By your logic, anyone who openly espouses an identity gives others the right to insult and/or threaten him/her on the basis of that identity. You've probably never had the experience, but any woman, GLBT person, or person of color can tell you that getting insulted on the street on the basis of the group you belong to is sometimes the prelude to a physical attack. So when somebody yells "faggot", what they're really communicating is "I hate gay men, I think you are one, and I don't want you/them around here, so I might beat or kill you."

The guys on the corner don't read this blog and they don't care if Jimbo is openly gay, in the closet or just a well-dressed hetero. They just enjoy intimidating a guy they don't know by using a word that is clearly intended as an insult in this context. They know that he knows that they could beat him up if they felt like it b/c there's a group of them who may or may not have weapons. Anyone who's seen this crowd knows by their behavior that they're invested in projecting a "gangsta" image, even if mostly what they do is drink beer. It's easy to see how one or more of them might think it was a good idea to beat up a white guy just to show their buddies how tough they are.

Please let's not start a "Jimbo's gonna beat you up" rumor in the neighborhood. I'll hire Betty White to do that.

Many openly gay men (not necessarily our humble Jimbo) seem to think that openly saying things like "I suck cock, and I love it", is acceptable in mixed company. And lets face it, Jimbo LIVES in mixed company. It is no more acceptable than wearing a t-shirt that says "I eat pussy" out in public. (and I saw that on Friday evening) What does a father of a young woman think when he sees a guy wearing that, and his daughter is nearby? And how is that any different from a self-professed cocksucker, expressing his love for cocksucking, in a neighborhood ripe with young men and old folks? Does the fact that they're black make it somehow more acceptable? Or is it their status as the underclass that puts them beneath you, thereby liberating you from any concern for decorum? (which is ultimately what you accuse them of doing)

I originally posted under my name, Tyler. But my comments didn't appear under my name. Other comments appeared under my name, and my comments appeared under someone else's name. So I'm doubting that there is any point posting now.

"Anger Hangover", you drink too much.

"I am no where near as angry as some of my neighbors are about shit going down in Shaw. There are some bitter, angry homeowners out there. I think I am allowed a certain emotional distance by virtue of being a renter. I can always easily leave (within rental contract restrictions of course). That's the nice thing about being a renter. But I do give a shit, just not quite as much as some property owners, apparently." I am a longtime lurker that rarely comments, but the above comment is really disturbing.

This is your home, whether you own it or not. Have you asked yourself what you will do when the sun goes down at 5:00 p.m. in late October/early November and you are walking these streets on your way home from work? The time to be angry and diligent about the activity in your neighborhood was, at least, right after you moved in. As an outsider coming into this neighborhood, you have an obligation to stand beside the angry neighbors and wake up the ones who have accepted this behavior for so long. Do you think your neighbors who own the homes in your neighborhood will allow themselves a certain level of emotional distance from your abuse or death because you were merely a renter?

Another point:

1a) Leroy Thorpe stole several computers.
1b) Several local blogs link to Jimbo's blog.
1c) Jimbo's face appears throughout his blog.
1d) Jimbo's front yard appears in his blog.

Connect the dots.

All sides need to exercise a bit of "decorum".

I agree with Ruth re: Tyler being an idiot and/or asshole, but I'll extend this a bit further to include blog troll:

According to urbandictionary, it's "A depraved individual who sits in front of a computer all day and posts flames of an idiotic or pseudo-intellectual nature on public forums and private websites."

Tyler fits this definition perfectly. He lacks the talent and courage required to create a blog of his own, and therefore vomits the most inane critiques and judgments, fueled by his jealously and resentment. He has nothing enlightening and/or thought provoking to say, but probably hi-fives himself each time he presses the "Post" button.

I bet he's the type of person who turns to emailing when his comments get deleted and, most likely, given his cowardly nature, uses a fake name and email account when doing so. Right "Tyler"?

The great thing about technology, "Tyler", is that eventually the cloak of anonymity is lifted, and the troll revealed.

See you at the next Blowoff, sweetie.

W: I don't know what you're getting at - please be clear.

Jeremy: I never said I'm not going to get involved - I said I have a little more emotional distance from the issues in the 'hood. But that doesn't mean I won't get involved or won't do anything. As it stands I already altered my route home from work. And even when I do happen to go straight home on Q, I'm still getting the hootin', hollerin' and jests. Last night one of the Q Crew said, "That's my bike!" as I rode by. My neighbors got their bikes stolen already, I wouldn't be surprised if mine was stolen too.

I was once almost hit by a cop driving while talking on their cell phone! This was long after the cell phone ban. No wonder everyone feels totally fine breaking that law. I've never seen anyone get pulled over for it (can they pull you over for that, or is it just an add on for the many other things drivers do that are wrong and dangerous).

Renting tends (not DOES but TENDS) to make people somewhat less invested in a neighborhood, because it's a lot easier to leave if it goes down the tube. If you sunk you life savings into a house, it makes you care, because you have a lot to lose.

That said I am currently a renter and highly invested in my neighborhood. When we had a string of break-ins I was keeping an eye out with everyone else. I love the hood and I love my block and I do live here, so of course I care.

We all have different limits but the stuff you're dealing with, Jimbo, I wouldn't be able to deal with. Considering that I almost moved to that area before I moved out of DC altogether, it's a little freaky to read about. Watch your back.

It's pretty funny that none of you people have heard of 5-N-O Crew given where you live... yes, it stands for "corner of Fifth and O Streets" and they have been around for something like twenty years. They were regularly name-checked in articles about gang shootings in DC back in the Nineties. In fact that graffiti could be ten years old easily. Do your homework!