DK Rap Composer Discusses 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 in The Super Mario Bros. Movie for the use of the DK Rap. In a conversation with Eurogamer, Kirkhope revealed that Nintendo opted not to credit composers for any music they own, with the exception of Koji Kondo.

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."

He further elaborated on the impact of this decision, noting the credits roll when theaters are empty, missing the chance for recognition. "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 shared.

In 2023, Kirkhope voiced his disappointment 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 also went uncredited, licensed tracks in the film were properly acknowledged. Kirkhope described the sampling of the DK Rap in the movie as "bizarre," likening it to simply "plugging in the N64 and sampling it and looping it." Despite his contributions on guitar and the vocal parts by the "lads from Rare," none received recognition.

When asked about the potential inclusion of the DK Rap in the Nintendo Music App, Kirkhope was uncertain. "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 rumor 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," he remarked.

Interestingly, Donkey Kong 64 is absent from the N64 Switch Online lineup, though elements like the Rambi theme are expected 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.

Meanwhile, the Mario cinematic universe continues to expand with a new Super Mario Bros. movie set to premiere in April 2026.