Kahlil Ashanti began his career as a teenager performing in community theater and open mic nights at comedy clubs throughout the midwestern United States. He then enlisted in the United States Air Force, winning the 1993 Air Force Worldwide Talent Contest which earned him the opportunity to tour with the elite Air Force Entertainment troupe Tops In Blue in 1994 and 1995 as a comedian/dancer/actor. After being honorably discharged in 1996 Kahlil performed his own magic/comedy dinner theater show at Caesar's Magical Empire, Caesar's Palace Las Vegas from 1997-2000 in Japanese as well as English. Upon his arrival in Los Angeles in 2001 he began writing his critically acclaimed one man show, 'Basic Training' which premiered Off Broadway on October 13, 2008.