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

Grant Kirkhope, the renowned composer behind classics like Donkey Kong 64, has shed light on why he was not credited in The Super Mario Bros. Movie for the use of the DK Rap. In an interview with Eurogamer, Kirkhope revealed that Nintendo made a policy decision not to credit composers for any music it owns, with the exception of Koji Kondo. This policy extended to songs with vocals, but since Nintendo also owns the DK Rap, Kirkhope and others involved in its creation were not credited.

Kirkhope expressed his disappointment, noting that by the time the credits roll in the movie, the theater is usually empty, making the lack of credit even more disheartening. He shared his frustration on social media in 2023, 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."

The DK Rap, which Kirkhope played guitar on and featured vocals by the "lads from Rare," was sampled in a way Kirkhope described as "bizarre," likening it to simply plugging in an N64 and looping the track. Despite this, other licensed tracks in the movie were credited to their composers and performers.

When asked about the possibility of the DK Rap appearing on the Nintendo Music App, Kirkhope speculated that it could happen since Nintendo owns the rights. However, he mentioned a rumor from his time at Rare that Nintendo was not particularly fond of Donkey Kong 64, which might affect its inclusion in future projects.

Eurogamer also pointed out that Donkey Kong 64 is not part of the N64 Switch Online lineup, though elements from the game, like the Rambi theme, may appear in upcoming projects such as Donkey Kong Bananza. Kirkhope's full interview with Eurogamer delves into more topics, including the potential for a new Banjo Kazooie game and the role of nostalgia in game soundtracks.

Meanwhile, the next installment in Mario's movie franchise is set to release in April 2026, continuing the cinematic journey of Nintendo's iconic characters.