Trabelus Suirad Whitfield aka “Maddlines” was born December 23rd, 1978 in Virginia Beach, Va. The 4th of 5 children, he grew up enjoying sports, primarily football. When not in the back yard being coached by his father, he and his brothers were around an organ with their father learning at an early age how to sing. With a father that sang, played guitar, organ, and managed bands in the past, music was in their genes. They would spend countless hours harmonizing around the organ.

Flash forward to jr. high school, Maddlines thought to develop his ability to sing and joined chorus at Princess Anne Jr. High School. He also dove into an acting ability and joined the one act play. While at jr. high school, he auditioned and was accepted for the jr. high school madrigals called “Panther Elite.” It was around this time that he started dreaming about a career in music or acting. In the later years of jr. high school, Maddlines also developed a taste for rap music.

During his freshman year at Green Run high school, he and his brother Dialect were in a few singing groups. It was during this time, however, that his interest in singing digressed as an interest in rapping quickly became the primary interest. That interest quickly became a passion as he joined forces with long time friend Darren Patrick. This duo soon became scholars of the rap game. For quite a few years they were a powerful rap duo battling any and everyone that they met who claimed to have a “gift of gab” as it once was called. Circumstances would cause Maddlines to transfer to Salem High School where the duo was temporarily separated, but Maddlines continued to develop his game and became a “campus name” there. During his senior year, he heard the message of Jesus Christ, and accepted Christ as his personal savior.

After a year of walking with Christ, Maddlines, Dialect, Darren Patrick, aka “Flo-Tung” and Charled Jones, aka “Dagger Tung” performed for their first audience at Bishop Courtney Macbeth’s “Calvary Revival Church in Norfolk. They were received well and it just fueled the desire to pursue rapping for God.

In March of 1998, Maddlines married Joanne Rodriguez. They met at a God’s Property concert at Rock Church in Virginia Beach approximately a year prior and attended Christian Chapel together. They both were heavily involved in youth ministry and both have a strong burden for young people.

During the summer of 1998, Maddlines, Dialect, and new found friend Aaron “Messenger” Warner joined forces to become Raiderz of the Lost. They ministered up and down the east coast with CMN Records fueling their vehicle. In the summer of 1999, Raiderz of the Lost recorded their first album, “Prepare for the Spillage,” which is still mentioned as one of the pioneer christian rap albums today. Raiderz of the Lost enjoyed the popularity of the “Spillage” album amid turbulent circumstances. The record company CMN Records was selling to another label which ended their contract after one year, Dialect had his 2nd battle with cancer, and the Messenger needed some time away from ministry to focus on himself and family.

With Raiderz of the Lost as they knew it on hold and Dialect fighting for his health, Maddlines and his wife Joanne focused on the burden to minister to youth. They became youth pastors at the church plant New Generation assembly. Maddlines personally had a tremendous amount of spiritual growth during this season which elevated his rap game. When God healed Dialect of his second batte with cancer, he and Maddlines rejoined forces and continued on as Raiderz of the Lost. They released another album entitled “The Music Makers.” It was very clear that their edgy hard core sound had changed, as God used the time away from music to mold them into the men of God that He called the to be. Raiderz of the Lost, Dialect and Maddlines, continue to minister today.

Maddlines attends Freedom Fellowship in Virginia Beach with his wife and 3 children. He still has a strong desire to minister to youth, and is currently expressing his passion and love for Christ in other things such as a clothing line called “i believe.” Apparel and a book with a working title of “The American Gospel.” He has a passion for truly seeking God’s heart for himself.