Phil Pulizzano: Flying the Flag for Dirt Road Mafia
At 46 years old, Phil Pulizzano has carved out a name for himself in the country rap world — not as a performer, but as a dedicated promoter, supporter, and one of the most visible symbols of the Dirt Road Mafia movement. Born in Wisconsin and later spending 23 years in Las Vegas, Phil has lived with one foot in the Midwest and one in the desert, soaking in diverse cultures that eventually led him toward country rap. What started as a simple friendship on Facebook turned into a life-changing journey that’s now central to who he is and what he represents in the music scene.
The First Connection
Phil’s story with Dirt Road Mafia begins at a truck stop in Wisconsin. “I was friends with Randy Josey on Facebook for a while,” he explains. “He was an over-the-road truck driver, and we decided to meet up. That’s when he handed me the flag.” It was more than just a piece of cloth — it became a symbol of loyalty, brotherhood, and movement. From that day forward, Phil took the flag everywhere, snapping photos with artists, showcasing it at shows, and slowly turning it into an icon of his support. “I started taking it to every event I went to and getting the artists I met to sign it. From there, it just snowballed into something I never expected.”
A New Door Opened
While Phil had been a fan of country rap for years, especially during his time in Las Vegas, Dirt Road Mafia gave him a front-row seat to the culture. “I’d been listening to it for a long time, but I never thought I’d meet the guys I listened to, let alone become friends with them,” he says. The movement introduced him to an entire network of rappers, promoters, and fans who didn’t just share music but built lasting bonds. “It gave me an open door to relationships with musicians, way more than I ever thought would happen in my life. I never expected to be part of it in this way.”
Influences Along the Way
Over the years, Phil has met countless artists, but a few have left lasting marks. “Big Buck Beezy was one of the first to hold the flag with me, along with Dirty Prescott Kids, who are fellow Wisconsin rappers,” he recalls. “Buck especially has been a big influence. He took me to video shoots, put me in the background of his videos, and introduced me to a lot of people. Same with Naughty Northern — I’ve been in one of his videos too.” These encounters weren’t just cool moments for Phil; they were doors to new opportunities and deeper involvement. “Those guys opened up a lot of doors for me, but Buck in particular really helped shape my journey.”
Family, Not Just Music
For Phil, what separates Dirt Road Mafia from any other movement isn’t just the music — it’s the sense of family. “There’s nobody else doing it the way we do it,” he says. “Other fans take pictures or collect merch, but I’ve built personal, family-level relationships with these guys. They treat me like one of their own.” That bond is shown in the love and respect Phil receives at shows. “They’ll pull me backstage, give me VIP access, show me love in front of the crowd. They come up, hug me, dap me up, and make sure everyone knows I’m part of it. That’s real. That’s family. And that’s what makes this so different.”
Challenges in the Scene
Of course, every movement comes with challenges. For Phil, the hardest part hasn’t been promoting the flag or building connections — it’s navigating the politics of a crowded scene. “I know almost every artist in this lane, and not all of them get along. My challenge has been staying neutral. I don’t pick sides, I don’t get into the drama. Some of them don’t like each other, but they all like me, and I wanna to keep it that way.” By staying true to himself, Phil has earned respect from both sides of rivalries and cemented his place as a trusted figure in the community.
When It Started Growing
The moment Phil realized Dirt Road Mafia was becoming bigger than just a group of friends came when the online presence exploded. “When I saw the Facebook page hit 1,000, then 1,700 members — that’s when it hit me,” he says. “The Mafia Clubhouse page and the Dirt Road Mafia Entertainment page really helped the movement grow, and they gave us a space to connect with fans across the country.” Combined with the recognition he gets at shows, Phil knew this was more than just a niche — it was a nationwide culture. “The love I get from the artists and the fans is unreal. That’s when I knew it wasn’t just a little thing anymore.”
Looking to the Future
Phil believes the next step for Dirt Road Mafia is growth on a much larger scale. “I want to see us throwing our own shows, our own festivals,” he says. “I know we’ve got the relationships to make it happen. If I had a venue and the resources, I could call almost any of these artists, and they’d come perform. That’s how tight this family is.” The dream is to take the culture beyond barrooms and small venues and build something that fans across the country can look forward to every year.
Advice to New Artists
As someone who’s watched countless artists come up, Phil has advice for newcomers: keep it authentic. “Be yourself. Don’t try to sound like anyone else. Keep making your own music, no matter what anybody says. Learn from the people around you, sure, but never lose your identity. That’s the only way you’ll last.”
One Word: Amazing
If he had to sum up his journey in one word, Phil doesn’t hesitate: amazing. “It’s been amazing because of all the people I’ve met, the friendships that turned into family, and the shows I’ve been blessed to attend. I’ve seen so much already, but I know this is just the beginning. There’s a lot more ahead, and I plan to keep going as long as I can. This flag isn’t coming down anytime soon.”
To Find phil:
FaceBook: Fedup Pulizzano
