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

Grant Kirkhope, the renowned composer behind classics like Donkey Kong 64, recently shed light on why he wasn't credited for the DK Rap in The Super Mario Bros. Movie. In a candid interview with Eurogamer, Kirkhope revealed that Nintendo had opted 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 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 noted the futility of credits appearing after the audience had left the theater, saying, "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 took to social media to voice his frustration, 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 tracks like Bowser's Fury were also uncredited, licensed tracks in the film did receive proper acknowledgment for their composers and performers. Kirkhope described the sampling of the DK Rap in the movie as "bizarre," likening it to simply plugging in an N64 and looping the track. He highlighted his own contribution on guitar and the uncredited "lads from Rare" who performed the "D-K" part.

When asked about the potential inclusion of the DK Rap in the Nintendo Music App, Kirkhope expressed uncertainty, noting, "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 absent from the N64 Switch Online lineup, though elements like the Rambi theme are expected to feature 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, fans of Mario's cinematic adventures can anticipate a new Super Mario Bros. movie set to release in April 2026.