As an aspiring novelist / astronaut / oil painter / brain surgeon / ninja, Asia never thought spoken word poetry would be his calling. But sometimes, as Asia has come to learn, God’s plan for your life is always bigger than your own. Because today, here Asia stands: a spoken word artist fortunate enough to turn his love of poetry into a career.

Asia’s gripping words have never been less than an honest and genuine testimonial to his life. His uncanny ability to combine humor and inspiration while provoking thought and self-reflection has won audiences all over. Regardless of audience size, he delivers all of himself each time, making sure never to skim on what many have testified as one of the most jaw-dropping shows they’ve been fortunate enough to witness. As he says in one of his poems, “This is about performing in front of 3000 or just 3 and still having the same conviction in your words.”

But it wasn’t always this way.

In the early months of 2006, Asia faced a battle with cancer. With his poetry at a standstill around that time, Asia had spent the few months prior considering retiring from poetry- convinced that his voice wasn’t unique enough to stand out amongst the multitude of poets already blazing a trail ahead of him. So persistent was this conviction that Asia slowly began taking small steps away from poetry and towards an active search for a stable full time job in graphic design.

He didn’t know it then…but it would be cancer that would save his life.

While recuperating from surgery, Asia made a vow that if he manages to survive his medical ordeal, he would no longer take life for granted- that there is an insurmountable amount of truth in the cliché, “Get busy living or get busy dying.”

Now, in the post-cancer years, Asia has been featured on Russell Simmons’ HBO Def Poetry, was named APCA Performer of the Year in 2006, and APCA College Spoken Word Artist of the Year for three years in a row from 2011-2013 by the Association of the Promotion of Campus Activities. He has taken 1st Place at the 2008 Southern Fried Poetry Slam Championships and has had the privilege to perform with great musical artists such as Janelle Monae, Mos Def, Jill Scott, DMX, KRS-One and Dead.

Always looking to elevate his craft, he now tours with his brother-in-law Jollan Aurelio and together they became The Asia Project. Combining Asia’s words with Jollan’s uncanny guitar talents, they blend poetry into a show that is both inspirational and moving, taking that show to over 450 colleges since 2010. They’ve been featured on TEDx, Button Poetry and has worked with companies such as To Write Love On Her Arms, Disney and Nokia Mobile.

Okay, so maybe Asia never became the ninja he wanted to be...but we can guarantee you won’t see them coming.