Lil Wayne, also known as Dwayne Michael Carter Jr., has been a fixture in the music industry since his teens. After a time on record labels, he began to connect with artists such as Snoop Dogg, Lil Wayne's cousin and bandmate, and began his rap career as a member of the hip-hop group D.I.Y.R.E.L.D. and later as the lead singer of his own group.