STAR of the Month : Newly crowned king tied out goats

STAR of the Month, Devin Di Dakta, is the 2015 Magnum King of Dancehall, and will know in less than a week if he has won a Grammy in the reggae category. But no matter how many accolades Devin amasses, he will always remember his humble beginnings, pushing his father's soup cart and tying out goats in Highgate, St Mary.

"Me no shame a it!" the 21-year-old star assured, as he fondly recalled his early days growing up in a community called Capture Land with his parents, three sisters, grandmother and uncle. He also had an older brother, who was killed in 2004.

"The morning after me win Magnum Kings and Queens of Dancehall, me take up me water boot and mi cutlass, and mi carry out me goat dem. Every school pickney inna the bus a call to me, and mi a wave to them with me goat," Devin said between laughs.

In addition to caring for about 30 goats, Devin also raised chickens, and it was his responsibility to clean the coop. But his childhood responsibilities did not stop there.

"Mi used to have to wake up in the early morning and go push the soup cart fi me father because him used to sell soup at the St Mary High School gate. He still sells there," Devin said. "That's how me get the name 'Soupy'. That's what they called me throughout [St Mary] high school and me embrace the name."

Though Devin had a passion for the entertainment industry, he was not allowed to roam the streets freely.

"Until this day, I'm not the road type. Mi used to go out two times a year. That's grand market night (Christmas Eve), and a thing called fair. Different from that, it was [from] school to me yard," Devin said.

Coming from a humble household, Devin said he knows all too well what it is like to be in need, so he makes it his point of duty to give back to youngsters in his community.

"Mi always think about people. If mi nuh help somebody one day, me can't sleep. When mi go pon the road, I have to give something to the people. Even if those around me oppose, I'll still hide and give because when me make somebody smile, that's the happiest day for me," Devin said.

However, Devin said youngsters should get an education, and improve their lives.