DK Rap Composer Reveals Lack of Credit in Super Mario Bros. Movie

Grant Kirkhope, the renowned composer behind iconic game soundtracks like Donkey Kong 64, recently shared insights on why he was not credited for the DK Rap in The Super Mario Bros. Movie. In an interview with Eurogamer, Kirkhope revealed that Nintendo decided not to credit composers for any music it owns, except for Koji Kondo. This policy extended to the DK Rap, despite its vocal component which initially seemed to qualify it for credits.

Kirkhope explained, "They said we decided that any music that was quoted from the games that we owned, we wouldn't credit the composers - apart from Koji Kondo. Then they decided anything with a vocal would get credited, so the DK Rap scores there. But then they decided if we also own it, we won't credit the composers. And that was the final nail in the coffin."

Expressing his disappointment, Kirkhope recounted the moment the credits rolled, "I said I appreciate you've got your policies and all the rest of it, but by the time the credits roll in the movie to show the songs, the theatre's completely empty, everyone's gone, it's only me and my wife and my two kids sat there going 'look daddy's name!'. I said 'for the sake of a couple of lines of text…', but that was that."

In 2023, Kirkhope voiced his frustration on social media, stating, "I was really looking forward to see my name in the credits for the DK Rap, but alas as expected it's not there ........ fml." The DK Rap, which Kirkhope contributed to with guitar work, and the "lads from Rare" who performed the "D-K" part, went uncredited along with another Nintendo-owned song, Bowser's Fury. Meanwhile, licensed tracks in the film were duly credited.

Kirkhope also described the sampling of the DK Rap in the movie as "bizarre," suggesting it was crudely done by simply "plugging in the N64 and sampling it and looping it."

When asked about the potential inclusion of the DK Rap in the Nintendo Music App, Kirkhope responded, "I wonder. They have put some of [David Wise]'s stuff on it. They do own it all so it's up to them. I don't think they ever really liked [Donkey Kong 64] that much. That's a rumour we got back through the cycle of whispers from Nintendo when we were at Rare. I don't know if that's true or not."

Interestingly, Donkey Kong 64 is notably absent from the N64 Switch Online lineup, though elements like the Rambi theme may appear in Donkey Kong Bananza.

For more in-depth discussion, you can visit the full Eurogamer interview where Kirkhope also touches on the prospects of a new Banjo Kazooie, Donkey Kong Bananza, and the essence of nostalgia in gaming music.

Looking ahead, the Mario franchise continues to expand with a new Super Mario Bros. movie set to release in April 2026.