Grant Kirkhope, the renowned composer known for his work on games like Donkey Kong 64, recently shared insights into 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 explained that Nintendo's policy was the reason behind his omission from the credits.
According to Kirkhope, Nintendo decided not to credit composers for any music they own, with the exception of Koji Kondo. Initially, there was a plan to credit any music with vocals, which should have included the DK Rap. However, Nintendo later revised this policy to exclude credits for composers of music they own, effectively leaving Kirkhope and others uncredited.
Kirkhope expressed his disappointment, noting that by the time the credits rolled, the theater was nearly empty, and only his immediate family was there to see the absence of his name. He lamented the decision, stating, "for the sake of a couple of lines of text," it would have meant a lot to him.
In a social media post from 2023, Kirkhope shared his frustration, 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." This sentiment underscores the personal impact of the decision on him.
The DK Rap, which Kirkhope played guitar on and was vocally performed by the "lads from Rare," was sampled in a way Kirkhope described as "bizarre," likening it to simply plugging in an N64 and looping the track. Despite this, neither Kirkhope nor the vocalists received any credit.
When questioned about the possibility of the DK Rap appearing on the Nintendo Music App, Kirkhope was uncertain but noted that other works by composer David Wise have been included. He also mentioned a rumored lack of fondness for Donkey Kong 64 within Nintendo, which might influence such decisions.
Interestingly, while Nintendo-owned tracks like Bowser's Fury were also uncredited, licensed tracks in the movie did receive proper acknowledgments for their composers and performers.
Eurogamer's interview with Kirkhope covered more than just the credits issue; it also touched on potential future projects like a new Banjo Kazooie game, Donkey Kong Bananza, and the role of nostalgia in gaming music. Meanwhile, fans of the Mario franchise can look forward to another Super Mario Bros. movie, slated for release in April 2026.
