In the days before the last night of Jam Master Jay’s life, the hip-hop icon walked the familiar streets of Hollis as a haunted man.

The globally-known DJ who turned Kangol hats and unlaced Adidas into a fashion statement now opted for a bulletproof vest. And he carried a gun, too — signs of an increasing paranoia despite his status as the neighborhood’s favorite son, a friend to all, a soft touch for neighborhood folks seeking a quick loan or a kind word.