Grant Kirkhope, the renowned composer behind classics like Donkey Kong 64, recently shared insights on why he wasn't credited in The Super Mario Bros. Movie for the DK Rap. In a conversation with Eurogamer, Kirkhope revealed that Nintendo had opted not to credit composers for any music they owned, with the exception of Koji Kondo. This policy extended to vocal tracks as well, but ultimately, because Nintendo owned the DK Rap, Kirkhope's contribution went uncredited.
Kirkhope expressed his disappointment, noting that by the time the credits rolled in the theater, only his family remained to see the omission. He lamented the lack of recognition, especially since the DK Rap's inclusion felt like a mere sample from the original N64 game, with his guitar work and the vocal contributions from the "lads at Rare" going unnoticed.
Interestingly, Kirkhope speculated on the possibility of the DK Rap being featured on the Nintendo Music App, given Nintendo's ownership of the track. However, he mentioned a rumor that Nintendo was not particularly fond of Donkey Kong 64, which might influence their decisions regarding its music.
Despite not being included in the N64 Switch Online lineup, elements from Donkey Kong 64, such as the Rambi theme, are expected to appear in future projects like Donkey Kong Bananza. Kirkhope's full interview with Eurogamer delves deeper into these topics, including discussions on potential new projects like Banjo Kazooie and the essence of nostalgic sound in gaming.
Meanwhile, the Mario franchise continues to expand, with a new Super Mario Bros. movie set to release in April 2026.
