DK Rap Composer Reveals Reason for No Credit in Super Mario Bros. Movie

Grant Kirkhope, the acclaimed composer behind the iconic DK Rap from Donkey Kong 64, has shared his disappointment over not being credited in The Super Mario Bros. Movie. In a revealing interview with Eurogamer, Kirkhope explained that Nintendo opted not to credit composers for music they own, which unfortunately included the DK Rap.

"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," Kirkhope recounted. He further noted that while vocal tracks were initially set to be credited, this policy was revised, and ultimately, the DK Rap did not make the credits list. "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 elaborated.

Kirkhope expressed his frustration, highlighting the minimal impact a credit would have had: "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 a social media post from 2023, Kirkhope had already voiced his disappointment, 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."

Interestingly, while other Nintendo-owned tracks like Bowser's Fury were also uncredited, licensed songs in the film did receive proper recognition for their composers and performers. Kirkhope described the use of the DK Rap in the movie as "bizarre," likening it to a direct sample from the N64 game, looped and used without crediting his guitar work or the contributions from the "lads from Rare" who performed the "D-K" part.

The discussion also touched on the possibility of the DK Rap appearing on the Nintendo Music App, with Kirkhope expressing uncertainty but noting that Nintendo owns the rights and could decide to include it. He hinted at a rumored lack of fondness for Donkey Kong 64 within Nintendo, which might influence such decisions.

Eurogamer pointed out that Donkey Kong 64 is absent from the N64 Switch Online lineup, although elements like the Rambi theme might appear in future projects like Donkey Kong Bananza.

For those interested in more insights from Kirkhope, the full Eurogamer interview covers a range of topics, including potential new projects like Banjo Kazooie and Donkey Kong Bananza, as well as the enduring appeal of nostalgic game soundtracks.

Meanwhile, fans of the Mario franchise can look forward to a new Super Mario Bros. movie set to release in April 2026.