DK Rap Composer Explains Why He Wasn't Credited in The Super Mario Bros. Movie

Grant Kirkhope, the acclaimed composer known for his work on games like Donkey Kong 64, recently shed light on why he was not credited for the use of the DK Rap in The Super Mario Bros. Movie. In an interview with Eurogamer, Kirkhope revealed that Nintendo made a policy decision not to credit composers for any music they own, with the exception of Koji Kondo. This policy extended to vocal tracks as well, leading to the DK Rap's exclusion from the credits despite its use in the film.

Kirkhope expressed his disappointment, noting that by the time the credits rolled, the theater was nearly empty, leaving only his family to celebrate his contribution. He lamented the decision, feeling that a few lines of text would have meant a lot to him. In a social media post from April 2023, he shared his frustration, 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 and was vocally performed by the "lads from Rare," was sampled in a manner Kirkhope described as "bizarre," suggesting it was directly taken from the N64 game and looped. Despite this, other licensed tracks in the movie were properly credited.

When asked about the potential inclusion of the DK Rap in the Nintendo Music App, Kirkhope was uncertain but mentioned that other works by composer David Wise had been added. He also hinted at Nintendo's rumored lukewarm reception to Donkey Kong 64, which might influence their decisions regarding its music.

For more insights from Kirkhope, including discussions on potential new projects like a Banjo Kazooie game and Donkey Kong Bananza, readers can check out the full Eurogamer interview. Meanwhile, fans of Mario can look forward to a new Super Mario Bros. movie set to release in April 2026.