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

Grant Kirkhope, renowned for his work on iconic games like Donkey Kong 64, has shed light on why he was not credited for the DK Rap in The Super Mario Bros. Movie. In a conversation with Eurogamer, Kirkhope revealed that after the film's release, Nintendo informed him of their policy not to credit composers for music they own, with the exception of Koji Kondo. This decision was altered slightly to credit songs with vocals, which included the DK Rap, but was ultimately reversed for any music owned by Nintendo, resulting in Kirkhope's omission from the credits.

Kirkhope expressed his disappointment, noting that by the time the credits rolled in the theater, it was nearly empty, leaving only him and his family to see the absence of his name. He voiced his frustration on social media in 2023, 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 by playing guitar, alongside the "lads from Rare" who performed the iconic "D-K" part, was sampled in a manner Kirkhope described as "bizarre," suggesting it was directly taken from the N64 game and looped.

While other Nintendo-owned tracks like Bowser's Fury were similarly uncredited, licensed songs in the film did receive proper acknowledgments for their composers and performers.

Regarding the possibility of the DK Rap being added to the Nintendo Music App, Kirkhope speculated that it could happen, given Nintendo's ownership of the track. However, he also mentioned a rumored disinterest from Nintendo towards Donkey Kong 64, which might affect its inclusion.

Eurogamer pointed out that Donkey Kong 64 is not part of the N64 Switch Online lineup, though elements like the Rambi theme might feature in upcoming projects like 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. Meanwhile, fans of the Mario franchise can look forward to a new Super Mario Bros. movie set to release in April 2026.