Grant Kirkhope, renowned for composing the music in iconic games like Donkey Kong 64, recently shared his disappointment over not being credited in The Super Mario Bros. Movie for the DK Rap. In an interview with Eurogamer, Kirkhope explained that Nintendo had opted not to credit composers for music they own, except for Koji Kondo. He noted that while songs with vocals were initially slated for credits, this policy shifted to exclude any music owned by Nintendo, which ultimately excluded the DK Rap.
Kirkhope expressed his frustration, stating that by the time the credits rolled in the movie, the theater was empty except for his family. He lamented the decision, saying, "for the sake of a couple of lines of text…" Despite his disappointment, he acknowledged Nintendo's policies.
In a social media post from April 2023, Kirkhope voiced his dismay, saying, "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 which featured vocals by Rare's team, was sampled in a way Kirkhope described as "bizarre," akin to simply plugging in an N64 and looping the sound.
Regarding the possibility of the DK Rap being added to the Nintendo Music App, Kirkhope speculated that it might happen, noting that other compositions by David Wise are already featured. However, he mentioned a rumor from his time at Rare suggesting that Nintendo was not particularly fond of Donkey Kong 64.
Interestingly, while Donkey Kong 64 is not part of the N64 Switch Online lineup, elements like the Rambi theme are set to appear 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.
On the film front, a new Super Mario Bros. movie is in development, with a release planned for April 2026.
