Born and raised in San Diego, California, RuPaul later studied performing arts in Atlanta, Georgia. He settled in New York City, where he became a popular fixture on the LGBTQ+ nightclub scene. He achieved international fame as a drag queen with the release of his debut single, "Supermodel (You Better Work)", which was included on his debut studio album Supermodel of the World (1993). He became a spokesperson for MAC Cosmetics in 1994, raising money for the Mac AIDS Fund and becoming the first drag queen to land a major cosmetics campaign. He later received his own talk show on VH1 called The RuPaul Show, which he hosted for over 100 episodes while co-hosting the morning radio show on WKTU with Michelle Visage.
RuPaul's Drag Race was created in 2009 and has gone on to produce fourteen seasons in the United States. The show has also seen success internationally, with several international variants of the show being made, such as RuPaul's Drag Race UK and Canada's Drag Race. This has also inspired several spin-offs of the main show, including RuPaul's Drag U, RuPaul's Drag Race: All Stars, and RuPaul's Secret Celebrity Drag Race. He is also featured as a host on other reality television series such as Skin Wars, Good Work, and Gay for Play Game Show Starring RuPaul.
RuPaul has made appearances in films such as Crooklyn (1994), The Brady Bunch Movie (1995), To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything! Julie Newmar (1995), But I'm a Cheerleader (1999), television shows such as Girlboss (2017), Broad City (2017), and Grace and Frankie (2019). He later created and starred in his own Netflix original television series AJ and the Queen (2020). In addition, he has also published three books: Lettin' It All Hang Out (1995), Workin' It! RuPaul's Guide to Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Style (2010), and GuRu (2018).
RuPaul is considered the most commercially successful drag queen in the United States. For his work on RuPaul's Drag Race, he has received 12 Primetime Emmy Awards, becoming the most-awarded person of color in the history of the Primetime Emmys. Outside of film and television, he also continues to write and record music; he has released fourteen studio albums as of 2022, and received a Tony Award for Best Musical as a producer for the musical A Strange Loop.
Back To My Roots
RuPaul Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Mama used to do people hair in the kitchen;
Press and curl, hot curlers, everything.
I love you, mama.
Black hair is a revolution.
Cornrows... uh, uh honey, I am tender-headed.
Jheri curls... style sophistication,
Afro puff... ah, ooh, ah, ah, ooh, ah.
Braids... pride, respect.
Extensions... more of a nineties fashion.
Asymmetrical shroom... banji girl.
I'm going back, back, back to my roots,
Where my love can be found, and my heart rings true.
I'm going back, back, back to my roots,
To the time and the place, coming back to you.
Black hair is a revolution.
Finger wave... a classic extravaganza.
Press and curl... never mix, never worry.
Flat top fade... very contemporary.
Nail sculpture... urban distinction.
Hot comb... ouch, mama, that was my ear.
Blow out kits... oh, oh, tamba.
No lye relaxer... fried, dyed, and laid to the side.
I'm going back, back, back to my roots,
Where my love can be found, and my heart rings true.
I'm going back, back, back to my roots,
To the time and the place, coming back to you.
Now, mama, got her own salon, down on auburn ave,
And if you want to know what's happening in atlanta,
Just go to the salon, that's to you and all y'all down there;
Brothers and sisters, Miss Earlene, Lizzy Dean, Renetta,
Little baby boy, tone, tone, Leo-nard, K-ron, Cornisha.
Peace to all my brothers and sisters.
Peace, love, and hair grease.
The lyrics of RuPaul's song Back To My Roots are an ode to black hair and the different styles associated with it. The song starts with a shoutout to the singer's mother, who used to do people's hair in the kitchen. Each of the subsequent lines mentions a different hairstyle and its significance in the culture, history, and identity of black people. From cornrows to Jheri curls, from afro puffs to hair weaves, each style has a story to tell. Some styles are associated with a particular era, like the asymmetrical shroom, which represents the "banji girl" style of the 90s. Others are timeless classics, like finger waves and press-and-curl. The lyrics also mention the ups and downs of maintaining these styles, like the pain of hot combs and the potential damage of no-lye relaxers.
Throughout the song, RuPaul seeks to celebrate black hair as a symbol of revolution, pride, and respect. He recognizes that black hair is much more than just a fashion statement, it is a critical aspect of black identity and history. The song ends with a shoutout to all the people mentioned in the lyrics, and the message of peace, love, and hair grease.
Line by Line Meaning
This is a special shot, going out to my mama, Ms. Ernestine Charles.
RuPaul addresses his mother, praising her for her experience as a hair stylist.
Mama used to do people hair in the kitchen;
His mom Ernestine Charles used to perform hairdressing duties in the kitchen.
Press and curl, hot curlers, everything.
She used hot curlers and press and curl technique to style hair perfectly in those times.
I love you, mama.
The artist acknowledges his love for his mother.
Black hair is a revolution.
RuPaul suggests that black hair could be viewed as a political and social revolution.
Cornrows... uh, uh honey, I am tender-headed.
The artist recalls the discomfort he experienced wearing cornrows due to his sensitive scalp.
Jheri curls... style sophistication,
RuPaul teases the elegance and refinement brought by wearing a Jheri Curl.
Afro puff... ah, ooh, ah, ah, ooh, ah.
The artist expresses excitement and joy over Afro Puff hairstyle.
Hair weave... call her Miss Ross.
RuPaul compares Miss Ross to hair weave indicating the hair weave is an iconic fashion staple resembling Miss Ross's hairstyle.
Braids... pride, respect.
The artist feels proud and respectful while talking about braids.
Extensions... more of a nineties fashion.
RuPaul alludes that extensions were a fashion staple and are more popular in the past.
Asymmetrical shroom... banji girl.
The artist associates asymmetric shroom hairstyle with the unapologetic characteristics of banji girl.
I'm going back, back, back to my roots,
The artist reiterates his attempt to go back to his roots.
Where my love can be found, and my heart rings true.
RuPaul suggests that he can find his love and true self within his roots.
Black hair is a revolution.
Reiterating that Black hair can be viewed as a social and political revolution.
Finger wave... a classic extravaganza.
The artist calls finger wave a classic vintage extravaganza.
Press and curl... never mix, never worry.
RuPaul advises never to mix press and curl techniques.
Flat top fade... very contemporary.
The artist calls flat top fade hairstyle very modern.
Nail sculpture... urban distinction.
RuPaul associates the nail sculptures with urban distinction.
Hot comb... ouch, mama, that was my ear.
The artist recalls the pain he experienced when his mother used the hot comb.
Blowout kits... oh, oh, tamba.
The artist expresses excitement for blowout hair repair kits and mentions 'tamba', which could be viewed as a regional reference to a party-music genre.
No lye relaxer... fried, dyed, and laid to the side.
RuPaul expresses his disdain for the harshness of no lye relaxer, which leaves hair looking 'fried, dyed, and laid to the side'.
I'm going back, back, back to my roots,
The artist continues his song with the same lyrics that he intends to go back to his roots.
Where my love can be found, and my heart rings true.
Similar to his earlier lines.
I'm going back, back, back to my roots,
Repetition of the same lyrics yet again.
To the time and the place, coming back to you.
He is coming back to his beloved roots.
Now, mama, got her own salon, down on auburn ave,
The artist suggests his mother now owns her very own hair salon.
And if you want to know what's happening in atlanta,
RuPaul advises to visit Mama's salon to know what's happening in Atlanta.
Just go to the salon, that's to you and all y'all down there;
The artist recommends the salon to his fans and followers.
Brothers and sisters, Miss Earlene, Lizzy Dean, Renetta,
RuPaul mentions the names of his mother's customers.
Little baby boy, tone, tone, Leo-nard, K-ron, Cornisha.
He recalls the names of his mom's clients.
Peace to all my brothers and sisters.
The artist wishes his brothers and sisters of the community peace.
Peace, love, and hair grease.
A popular African American expression, conveying wishes of fortune and well-being along with a suggestion to take care of hair.
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc., Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: RUPAUL CHARLES, ERIC STEPHEN KUPPER, JIMMY HARRY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Sandro
Rupaul's songs make me feel happy. <3
Vick Lavender
A very underrated jam.
Archetype Archetype
Rupal performed this on Arsenio Hall wearing a watermelon bikini top and bottom. Was one of the highlights of my teen self. But can never find the version online or anywhere. 😢. Anyone???
x3syllablesx
I still know every word to this song in 2020! Yesss!
Barrett
Love RuPaul
Rafael Santos
J'ADOOOORE !!!!!
steven franks
"My hair is...a ReVoLuTiOn...." 😀
Kinder Punch & Mister Cookie
💏🔥💑