“You see me with a bodyguard, that means police is watching And I only use his waist to keep my Glock in But when shit goes down you know who's doing the poppin' And if you don't know, guess who's doing the droppin’” Jay-Z and his bodyguard Hamza Hewitt, photographed arriving at the opening of the Underbar in the W Hotel in Union Square on January 18, 2001. Jigga is wearing head-to-toe Rocawear and an [unseen] pair of dark chocolate Timbs. On his meteoric rise to superstardom the Brooklyn rapper knew he needed someone who would have his back at all times. That person would be the Teaneck, New Jersey native, and best believe that the former Cleveland Browns offensive tackle took his job very seriously. On October 31, 2000 he was arrested at Boston’s “Summer Jam” for carrying an unlicensed .40-caliber Ruger handgun backstage while on protection duty. On April 13, 2001 Hewitt was arrested alongside Jay, Tyran “Ty Ty” Smith and his longtime chauffeur Romero Chambers, when [allegedly] a Glock G22 40-caliber pistol was discovered in the bodyguard’s waistband as they rode in a 2000 Chevrolet Suburban. Hov had been performing with Ja Rule at Angie Martinez’s debut album release party at Club Exit—he made a guest appearance on the track “Mi Amor"—and the NYPD’s “Hip-Hop Taskforce” were staking out the club, waiting for rap artists to emerge. Jay was freed on $10,000 bail, while Hamza—as the declared owner of the weapon—had to cough up $20,000. The rapper was later cleared of the charges when Hewitt plead guilty to third-degree weapons possession. He received a one-year prison sentence. Upon release Hewitt worked as a driver for Demetrius “Big Meech” Flenory—the co-founder of the Black Mafia Family. #JAYZ