Grant Kirkhope Discusses Lack of Credit for DK Rap in The Super Mario Bros. Movie

Legendary video game composer and voice actor Grant Kirkhope, best known for his work on the Donkey Kong series and his performances as the character Donkey Kong, has recently addressed Nintendo's omission of his name from the credits in The Super Mario Bros.

Movie.

Kirkhope, who wrote, composed, and performed the original "DK Rap," expressed disappointment that despite the iconic track's inclusion in the blockbuster film's soundtrack, he did not receive an official on-screen credit. Kirkhope shared in a recent interview that Nintendo's decision not to credit him stemmed from internal music attribution policies.

He recounted his outreach to a Nintendo contact with whom he had previously collaborated during work on titles like Super Smash Bros.

According to Kirkhope, his inquiry prompted a response from a representative within Nintendo's legal department, explaining the company's approach to music credits in the movie. The response detailed that Nintendo applied a three-rule criterion for crediting music in The Super Mario Bros.

Movie: firstly, composers would generally not be credited for music owned by Nintendo and featured in the film, except for contributions by famed composer Koji Kondo.

Secondly, if a piece of music included vocals, the composer could receive recognition.

However, a final stipulation added that if Nintendo also owned the piece outright, credit would again not be given, regardless of its vocal content. Kirkhope described this process as somewhat arbitrary, noting that even if he were credited, such recognition would likely appear at the very end of the film's credits, when most theatergoers had already left.

He commented that only his immediate family would have stayed to see his name on screen, underscoring the personal importance of the acknowledgement. Despite the DK Rap being a celebratory moment within The Super Mario Bros.

Movie, Kirkhope confirmed that he has not watched the film in its entirety, having only seen the scene featuring his song.

He candidly admitted that his disappointment over the lack of credit has deterred him from viewing the full movie. Kirkhope's reflections highlight ongoing discussions in the video game industry regarding proper attribution for composers and content creators, especially as video game music is increasingly used in cross-media platforms like film.

The Super Mario Bros.

Movie, launched in 2023, has achieved significant box office success, drawing both new and longtime Nintendo fans, but has sparked debate on how creative contributions are acknowledged by industry giants like Nintendo. Nintendo Switch owners and enthusiasts continue to celebrate Nintendo's legacy, often citing iconic soundtracks and memorable character performances as core elements of the gaming experience.

Kirkhope's work, including the DK Rap and his broader catalog, remains influential both within the Donkey Kong franchise and the wider video game music landscape.

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