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

Grant Kirkhope, the renowned composer behind classics like Donkey Kong 64, recently shared his insights on why he wasn't credited for the DK Rap in The Super Mario Bros. Movie. In an interview with Eurogamer, Kirkhope explained that Nintendo had decided not to credit composers for any music it owns, with the exception of Koji Kondo. This policy extended to the DK Rap, despite its vocal component which initially seemed to qualify it for credit.

Kirkhope recounted his conversation with Nintendo, stating, "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."

He expressed his disappointment over the lack of recognition, noting that by the time the credits roll, the theater is usually empty, and only his immediate family was there to see his potential credit. "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," Kirkhope explained.

In 2023, Kirkhope voiced his frustration on social media, tweeting, "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."

While other Nintendo-owned songs like Bowser's Fury were also uncredited, licensed tracks in the film did receive proper credits for their composers and performers. Kirkhope found the sampling of the DK Rap in the movie to be "bizarre," likening it to simply plugging in an N64 and looping the track. He highlighted his own contributions to the song, including playing the guitar, and the involvement of the "lads from Rare" in the "D-K" part, all of whom went uncredited.

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 not available on the N64 Switch Online lineup, though elements like the Rambi theme seem set to appear in Donkey Kong Bananza. For more insights from Kirkhope, including discussions on potential new projects like Banjo Kazooie and Donkey Kong Bananza, you can read the full interview on Eurogamer.

Looking ahead, a new Super Mario Bros. movie is in development, with a planned release in April 2026.