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

Grant Kirkhope, the renowned composer behind iconic video game soundtracks like Donkey Kong 64, has shed light on why his name was omitted from the credits of The Super Mario Bros. Movie despite the inclusion of the DK Rap. In an insightful interview with Eurogamer, Kirkhope revealed that Nintendo opted not to credit composers for music it owns, with the exception of Koji Kondo. This policy extended to the DK Rap, which, despite featuring vocals, was not credited because Nintendo owns it.

Kirkhope expressed his disappointment, noting the fleeting nature of movie credits: "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!'." He lamented the minimal effort it would have taken to include his name, saying, "for the sake of a couple of lines of text…".

In a social media post from April 2023, Kirkhope shared his frustration directly: "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." This sentiment was echoed by the absence of credits for other Nintendo-owned tracks like Bowser's Fury, while licensed tracks were duly recognized.

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 contributed guitar to the original piece, with the "D-K" part performed by the "lads from Rare," yet none received acknowledgment.

The conversation also touched on the potential inclusion of the DK Rap in the Nintendo Music App. Kirkhope speculated on this, mentioning that while some of David Wise's compositions have been added, Nintendo's reported lukewarm reception to Donkey Kong 64 might influence their decision. He referenced a "rumour we got back through the cycle of whispers from Nintendo when we were at Rare," suggesting a possible lack of enthusiasm from the company toward the game.

Eurogamer highlighted that Donkey Kong 64 is notably absent from the N64 Switch Online lineup, though elements like the Rambi theme are slated for inclusion in Donkey Kong Bananza. Kirkhope's full interview delves into more topics, including the prospects of a new Banjo Kazooie and the nostalgic appeal of his music.

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