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

Grant Kirkhope, the renowned composer known for his work on classics like Donkey Kong 64, has shed light on why his name was absent from the credits of The Super Mario Bros. Movie, specifically regarding the use of the DK Rap.

In a detailed interview with Eurogamer, Kirkhope revealed that he had discussions with Nintendo following the film's release. He learned that Nintendo had decided against crediting composers for any music they owned, 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 expressed his disappointment, noting that by the time the credits rolled in the movie, the theater was nearly empty, and only his immediate family remained to see the absence of his name. "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 recounted.

Kirkhope's frustration was evident in a 2023 social media post where he lamented, "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."

Interestingly, while the DK Rap and another Nintendo-owned song, Bowser's Fury, were not credited, external licensed tracks did receive proper acknowledgments for their composers and performers.

Kirkhope described the use of the DK Rap in the movie as "bizarre," suggesting it sounded as if it was directly sampled from the N64 game. He mentioned his own guitar contributions and the vocal parts by "the lads from Rare," all of which went uncredited.

When asked about the potential inclusion of the DK Rap in the Nintendo Music App, Kirkhope was uncertain but noted that other works by David Wise had been added. He also mentioned a rumored lack of enthusiasm from Nintendo towards Donkey Kong 64, though he couldn't confirm its validity.

Eurogamer pointed out that Donkey Kong 64 is notably absent from the N64 Switch Online lineup, although the Rambi theme seems slated for inclusion in Donkey Kong Bananza.

For those interested in more insights from Kirkhope, the full interview on Eurogamer covers a range of topics, including the prospects of a new Banjo Kazooie, Donkey Kong Bananza, and the essence of nostalgic soundtracks.

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