Grant Kirkhope, the renowned composer known for his work on classics like Donkey Kong 64, recently shed light on why he wasn't credited for the use of the DK Rap in The Super Mario Bros. Movie. In a detailed interview with Eurogamer, Kirkhope revealed that Nintendo had opted not to credit composers for any music they own, with the exception of Koji Kondo. This policy extended to the DK Rap, despite its vocal component which initially seemed to qualify it for credits.
Kirkhope recounted his conversation with Nintendo, stating, "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."
Expressing his disappointment, Kirkhope noted the irony of the situation, mentioning that by the time the credits rolled in the movie, the theater was nearly empty, and only his immediate family remained to see his potential credit. He lamented, "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."
In 2023, Kirkhope voiced his frustration 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." The DK Rap, which Kirkhope contributed to by playing the guitar, was sampled in a manner he described as "bizarre," akin to simply plugging in an N64 and looping the track.
While other Nintendo-owned songs like Bowser's Fury were also uncredited, licensed tracks in the film did receive proper acknowledgments for their composers and performers. Kirkhope's discussion with Eurogamer also touched on the potential inclusion of the DK Rap in the Nintendo Music App, expressing uncertainty about Nintendo's plans, given their rumored lukewarm reception to Donkey Kong 64.
As a side note, Donkey Kong 64 is notably absent from the N64 Switch Online lineup, although elements like the Rambi theme might feature in future projects like Donkey Kong Bananza. Kirkhope's full interview with Eurogamer delves deeper into his thoughts on a possible new Banjo Kazooie, Donkey Kong Bananza, and the essence of nostalgia in gaming music.
Looking ahead, the Mario franchise continues to expand, with a new Super Mario Bros. movie slated for release in April 2026.
