Myelin, Music & Motivation: B-Cide’s Story of Strength, MS & Purpose-Driven Hip Hop (Inspirational)

How do you keep chasing your purpose when life hits you with a diagnosis that changes everything?

In this deeply inspirational and motivational episode, Reginald D sits down with rapper, producer, author, and entrepreneur Robert Cardillo, better known as B-Cide, to talk about his raw, real, and resilient journey living with Multiple Sclerosis (MS)—while still pursuing his passion for music, entrepreneurship, and impact.

From growing up in upstate New York, grinding in the underground hip hop scene for over 25 years, and building his streetwear brand “55 Strong,” B-Cide opens up about what it truly means to fight for your purpose, even when your body tries to betray you. Diagnosed with MS in 2011, he shares the emotional toll, the reality of lost relationships, and how he rose again—stronger, wiser, and louder than ever.

B-Cide's story is more than music—it's about faith, mental strength, and redefining success when life doesn’t go according to plan.

Whether you’re battling chronic illness, invisible pain, or internal doubt—this episode will remind you that you are not your diagnosis, and you still have a voice.

Powerful Takeaways

• Learn how to transform adversity into art and advocacy—and how B-Cide channels MS into a groundbreaking album set to drop during MS Awareness Month.
• Discover how to redefine success beyond fame or fortune—through purpose, connection, and legacy.
• Get inspired by B-Cide’s practical wisdom on how to push through physical and emotional pain while staying creative, resilient, and faith filled.

If you’ve ever felt like life knocked you off course, hit play now for a motivational/inspirational speech wrapped in real-life experience, hip hop wisdom, and purpose-driven fire.

B-Cide contact info:

Official Website: https://www.b-cide.com 

Book Website: https://www.myelinmyshoes.com 

Instagram: https://instagram.com/bcide 

Facebook: https://facebook.com/bcide 

TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@bcide Y

YouTube: https://youtube.com/@btvstudio 

Bandcamp: https://bcide.bandcamp.com

inspirational, motivational, motivational podcast, motivational speech, MS awareness, multiple sclerosis, chronic illness motivation, invisible illness inspiration, hip hop artist, , underground rap, Myelin My Shoes book, B-Cide, overcoming adversity, living with MS

Transcript

 Welcome to Real Talk with Reginald D I'm your host, Reginald D.  On today's episode, I have Robert Cardillo, AKA B-side. B side is a rapper, producer, clothing designer, and author of Myelin My Shoes, a memoir about life, music, and resilience after being diagnosed with Ms. Welcome to the show, Ronald. Speaker A: Thanks for having me. Reginald, how you doing today? Speaker B: Doing great, sir. Doing great. Doing great. Speaker A: Great. Speaker B: So, Robin, can you tell us a little bit about where you grew up and what your childhood was like? Speaker A: Sure. Well, I grew up in a little city called Utica in New York. Everybody thinks that when you say New York, you kind of live in the city, but that's really not the case. New York's a pretty big state, and I happen to live right in the middle of New York. It's called Central New York. Speaker B: And. Speaker A: And that's where I live. And I was born in January by my two parents, and I have a brother and his name's Nick. My parents unfortunately got divorced when we were younger. So, you know, that kind of takes a toll on you when you're a kid. But my parents are, you know, talking and things like that. They never let us go, like, neglected or anything along those lines. You know, they were really good with us and. Yeah, but my mom, she's my rock. So she is definitely. She's definitely the one that is always the constant in my life and keeps me grounded, you know? Speaker B: Yeah, man, that's something about the moms and the boys. Yeah, it is. So, Robert, can you tell us who is B side behind the mic, you know, and the beats and the brain? Speaker A: Sure. Well, behind the microphone, B side is a real big turned up version of myself. That's really what I do. I kind of, like, use it like how a wrestler would use their gimmick, you know, is their character. So that is kind of how I portray bside. And the genre of music that I'm in is underground hip hop. So it's not really like mainstream kind of stuff. I don't know if you've ever heard of the Insane Clown Posse before. So I'm in the genre that they do. It's called horrorcore. And we rap about everything from, like, love to murder. And it's just a relief piece of everything. And it's not, you know, it's not over produced, and it's not made by, you know, people in high places that get on the radio or anything like that. So we're just real underground, and they don't play us on the radio. And we've kind of built the fans from the ground up. Speaker B: Okay. We're doing it organic, man. That's what you're supposed to do. Yeah, yeah. So you've been grinding in the underground music scene for over 25 years. What originally drew you to hip hop and what kept you in the game so long? That's the thing. Because a lot of people don't, you know, stay in there 25 years on something like this. Speaker A: Yeah, well, I'll tell you, I was into. I was really big. And what's funny is my first musical experience of my life was Green Day and the punk rock, and they got me interested in doing music in general. So Green Day made me want to be, like, a performer, but I could never learn how to play guitar or anything like that. And I started getting into rap music, and I started listening to, like, Master P and the Insane Clown Posse and Tech9 and kind of took what Master P and the Insane Clown Posse and Tech9 were doing. Kind of took that all in like a pot, mixed it up and did it, like, my own way. And it was just an amalgamation of all this stuff put together, even Green Day put in there, because that's how I learned how to really write songs. So that is really, like, the whole thing that I've put together and the thing that kind of keeps me going is the people that I've actually touched over the years, and that's really what keeps me going with it. And the fact that I have Ms. And it's like a big release for me to be able to make music. And it's like, better than therapy. Speaker B: Yeah, absolutely. Yeah. Because it's the thing, man. I think when you are walking in your purpose and you are touching people, when you're doing takes everything kind of away, you know, Say it becomes the forecry of a thing because that's when it becomes precious to you and things like that. Let's talk about this. In 2011, life hit you hard, and you were diagnosed with Ms. Take us back to that moment. What were you thinking and feeling when everything changed? Speaker A: What had happened is I went from being somebody who was able to be on the road and doing shows and performing. And then I got diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. And it was a diagnosis from, like, a general neurologist here in Utica. And we're not really known for our doctors, unfortunately. So this doctor tells me, he's like, oh, take this shot. You'll be fine. Never really explains to me what Ms. Is or anything of that nature. And I started taking this shot and I'm noticing. I'm really not. It's really not keeping me stable. These things are supposed to keep you stable. And I was kind of getting worse, so my father kind of interjected, and he is friends with these people, Constantinos, and they have a wing of a hospital in Rochester, New York in named after their family. And it just so happens that this hospital in Rochester has this world renowned Ms. Center. So my father ends up getting me hooked up with these people. And I would say a couple years after I had gotten diagnosed, so maybe 2012 or 2013, I end up getting hooked up in Rochester with these people. And they get me on the right medication and everything. They actually do the proper tests that need to be done. They conducted an mri. And in Utica, the one from here looks like a 1950s television, and the one in Rochester looks like a full HD 4K. Great picture and everything. It's just unbelievable to see the difference when you move to different places of how the medicine is. It's. It almost shouldn't be like that, but unfortunately it is. And I got diagnosed, so I had just been carrying on and I was with my fiance at the time of 10 years. And all in all, she ended up breaking up with me over the Ms. And the fact that we really were just butting heads at that point in time. And then I ended up having to move in with my mom. I was getting bad, and my mom started telling me I need to start thinking more positively. And I started thinking more positively, you know, maybe getting a little bit more prayer in there, getting a little bit more right with God and, you know, just trying to look at life for, you know, the blessing that it is. Speaker B: Yeah. Because the thing about it, when you get diagnosed with something like that and you really see how real the people are in your life, you know, that's with you. You know, some people can't do the challenges. Right. And they can't. But one thing I always say is that your condition is not your conclusion at the end of the day. So what was the hardest mental or emotional battle you had to fight after your diagnosis? And how did Ms. Changed the trajectory of your life and music career? Speaker A: Well, I'd say the hardest. The hardest thing about the Ms. Is going from being able to perform in front of people to not having to do that anymore. And that was like a real big killer for me. Very depressing. And I was just. After my fiance had broken up with me and I was living with my mom, I kind of got worse. And then I ended up in a Wheelchair full time, and my legs just start locking up and not working the way that they should. And that is. That's like what the Ms. Has done. For some reason, we don't know why. And that's just like how I have to deal with it. That's what it's given to me, you know, so with the music, what it did is totally stop me in my tracks. What I had planned was in 2011, I had this album that I was going to come out with and I was going to go on the road with it and do these tour dates and sell it. And I was this close to being where I needed to be with everything. And it just totally knocked me down and I kind of let it stop me for a good few years there. And then I started just making music. And it makes me feel like I'm like an unstoppable force when I make music. And like, B side doesn't have Ms. The way I have ms, it's just the way that it is. It's a character. It's not going to show the same kind of, you know, pain that I'm going to show. But, you know, they do merge into each other as well, so that's also a thing. So I think they merge pretty well. Now at the point where I'm talking about MS, I've literally just gotten done recording like 27 demos of songs just about multiple sclerosis. That's going to come out in, let's see, it's going to come out next year and it's going to come out in March on Multiple Sclerosis Awareness Month. So that's what I've been kind of doing with the music to kind of keep me going and keep me on, like, a certain path. I want to be a voice for the voiceless of people with disabilities and, you know, multiple sclerosis and kind of bring awareness to it. I'm not cursing in the stuff or anything. Speaker B: I'm. Speaker A: I'm being a really good boy with it. Speaker B: Yeah. But one thing about it, I think, you know what happens when things like that happen, because just for me, period, music is healing, period. I love music. I love all types of music. You know, when I get to my quiet place, it's music. It's not tv. It's not none of that. It's just music. It's whatever I feel that day I play, you know, I think music brings healing. So tell us about your streetwear brand, 55 Strong. What does that mean and how does it reflect your journey? Speaker A: Well, 55 strong came from an Insane Clown Posse lyric. And the. The lyric actually goes, now I'm in a street gang, 55 strong. Everybody's singing that Southwest song. And I pulled that out of the lyric just to mean, like, strength and determination. And I use 55 strong now not just as, like a clothing brand that I've made designs out of. Like, like, this is one of the designs with an Insane Clown Posse, like, album cover and stuff inspired by it. So like, we make stuff inspired by, like, ICP and also, like original designs, like cool clown designs and just like graffiti kind of logos and just on brand, like street wear kind of stuff, you know, and it's just a way that I felt that it would be a way to show strength and just be able to have something that people could attach on to and show that you could be 55 strong. And it just shows strength, you know, and unity. Speaker B: Yeah, Robert, because I'm telling you, man, I'm really, really inspired about your determination, you know, and how do you stay inspired and being creative when your physical body doesn't always cooperate with you? Speaker A: Well, you know, thank God I don't have Ms. Where it's affecting my brain or my eyesight or my speech, because my mind is constantly working. As long as I can talk and move my hands enough to type on a cell phone and write lyrics or write something that has to do with like a book or something along those lines, then I'm good. It helps me stay pain free. Whenever I'm creating something. I'm absolutely pain free. It's so weird. Speaker B: It's minor. What matter? Yeah, man, I love it. I love it. Myelin, my shoes is raw and unfiltered. So why was it important for you to write this book? Speaker A: Well, what happened is I wanted to show my journey of almost making it in the underground music business, but then getting cut short by a disease that's not really talked about that much. And what I. What I've done is I talk about, like, my life before everything and then my life after everything. But I also talk about, like, how my friends deal, dealt with the diagnosis and things of that nature. I talk about the loves of my life and stuff like that too. But I really wanted to do it to show people that I have this strength and determination to actually do this stuff and actually come out with this stuff and just be able to bring it out to people and show them that disabled people can do things and we're just like everybody else. Speaker B: I'll tell you what, you're purpose driven, man. You're Very purpose driven. I love it. Speaker A: Thank you. I love it. Thank you. Speaker B: So what do you hope we just take away from your journey, especially those dealing with invisible illnesses, chronic battles, or disability? Speaker A: Well, I want them to take away. You don't have to let your situation dictate the way your life's going to go. You can take your situation and think more positively and be a champion at what you want to do. You can just start thinking about things and make things happen and just make your life a better thing than it was. Just keep on pushing through things. Don't let people bring you down. You need to start looking at the positive side of life. Speaker B: Yeah, absolutely. And that brings me to my next question about success. You know, people look at success all kind of ways, but I think it depends on the situation that you can determine your success. People say success is money, success is these things and all that kind of stuff, but I think it's based on a situation. So how has your idea of success changed over the years from the early days of rap to the man you are today? Speaker A: Really? When I first was getting started, all I wanted to do was be famous and have money and things that, you know, you see all these rappers have. And it's funny because now I look at it and I'm not rich and I'm not famous, but the amount of fans that I do have make me feel famous, and I'm rich in spirit and I'm rich in my soul. So, you know, I don't necessarily have to be monetarily rich. So I look at life a little bit more peaceful now, you know, but I still grind hard. Speaker B: Yeah. The thing about it, you still look at all the fans and all the people who's with you. That's success right there. Speaker A: Yes. Yes. Speaker B: Yeah. At the end of the day, that's success. So, Robert, what advice would you give someone who feels like life completely knocked them off their path? What kind of advice would you give them? Speaker A: Don't let life get you down. You can fall down, but you're going to get up more times than you fall down. I know it sounds cliche, but it's the truth. And sometimes, too, you just need a friend to talk to. You need a real good friend to talk to and bounce ideas off of, and maybe they'll tell you something you don't want to hear, but sometimes they have great ideas and they can help you get where you need to be. Speaker B: Yeah. Because one thing, as I'm talking to you, one thing that stands out to me is strength, you know? So what does strength look like to you today? And how can others tap into their own version of it? Speaker A: Strength is just pushing through no matter what it is. It is just not letting people dictate to you what they think you are, what. Or what you are. You are what you say you are. And it's just dig down deep and find that strength and determination to just get what you need. Speaker B: Yeah. Because I always tell people that you got to be what you want to become. At the end of the day, you got to do the work to be what you want to become. And that's what it's all about. You know, like I said, it doesn't matter. You know, the situation in life. Life is going to keep life and. Right. That's what we call it. Yeah. Things going to happen. Yeah. You got to keep going towards your goals and your dreams and your desires and things like that. You want for your life. Speaker A: Yep. Speaker B: So what's next for Bside, professionally and personally? Speaker A: Well, I'll tell you right now. Hold on. Let me tell you right before that, the reason I called the book Myelin My Shoes, Myelin M Y E L I N is the stuff. It's the coating around your nerves, and that's what multiple sclerosis attacks. So that's why I called it My Lin My Shoes. Speaker B: Okay. Speaker A: Okay. All right. Yeah. Yeah, I just wanted to put that out there. So what's next is. I had already said I'm working on this album. I'm working on this album about multiple sclerosis. It's never been done before, to my knowledge. I'm working with a longtime friend and producer of mine, Ken Williamson. He goes by K Dub. And we've just been working on music. Kind of like a band's been doing it. He's been making beats and stuff. I've been writing tracks to it, and we've just been putting things together, and it's just been a great team, and we've really been doing things great. And, you know, the other thing that I've been doing is me and my father have actually gotten together, and there's a business that he has called the Cardinal Center. And we are turning this business into a business that's going to be able to help businesses utilize politics to help them save money. Because my dad's actually been in the political arena and in Washington and stuff for, like, the past 50 years. So he had, like, a consulting business. And then we're going to turn it into something all New age. I started studying this guy named Russell Brunson through this website named Clickfunnels. And I'm going all in with my father on this thing, and that is really what's next. Speaker B: Man, that sounds exciting. Yeah. And, man, I'm telling you, I know y' all gonna get it done, too. Speaker A: I hope so, man. Speaker B: You go get it done. The drive you got. Oh, yeah, you go get it done. So, lastly, Ralla, how can people support you? Connect with your music and grab a copy of Myelin Bull? Speaker A: Sure. They can just go on my official website, b-c I d e.com, and they can find everything about me right there. You can get the book on there. You can find out where to listen to my music and stream it. You can find out more about me, all that good stuff. Speaker B: Yeah, that's it, man. Man, I'm so excited, man. I'm telling you, man. You are an inspiration. Well, thank you. Yeah. And all you got to do is keep pushing, man. You know, the Nets gonna be the Nets, and the Nets gonna be the Nets, and the Nets gonna be the Nets. You're gonna be tired one day. Speaker A: Thanks, man. Thanks. I hope so. I hope so. Speaker B: Oh, yeah. Yeah. You're gonna be good. You're gonna be good, because your time, this is what's going to take you. Speaker A: Thank you. Speaker B: That's what's going to take you. So thank you so much. Coming on the show, everybody, Robert Fudillo, AKA B side, man, thank you so much for spending the time with us. And I'm telling you, man, you're truly a blessing and you truly are a person that people need to hear from and can get their strength from, you know, through disabilities and things like that, you know. Speaker A: Thank you.  Thanks for tuning in with Real Talk Reginald D. If you enjoyed listening to Real Talk Reginald D. Please rate and review on Apple Podcast. See you next time.