DK Rap Returns in Donkey Kong Bananza: Grant Kirkhope Uncredited in Nintendo's Latest Release

The DK Rap Returns in Donkey Kong Bananza Amid Ongoing Composer Credit Debate Nintendo fans were treated to a wave of nostalgia with the announcement that the iconic DK Rap has made its return in Donkey Kong Bananza for the Nintendo Switch.

Originally composed for Donkey Kong 64 by Grant Kirkhope, the DK Rap has become a cult classic, known as much for its quirky lyrics as its infectious melody.

Despite its enduring legacy and enthusiastic reception by the fanbase, recent developments have highlighted an ongoing discussion around crediting the original creators of beloved game music. Grant Kirkhope, the acclaimed British composer behind the original DK Rap, was not notified in advance that his track would be reinstated in the latest Donkey Kong title.

Kirkhope, whose body of work includes scores for GoldenEye 007, Banjo-Kazooie, and Viva Piñata, explained to Eurogamer that he was not surprised by this omission, citing previous experiences with Nintendo's credit policies. "Nintendo had a policy where only the composers of select in-house tracks would be credited," Kirkhope stated in a recent interview, paraphrasing that unless a vocal track was used and the rights were not wholly owned by Nintendo, external composers would typically go uncredited.

"When it comes to music Nintendo directly owns, their decision is to leave out the original composers, regardless of the track’s popularity or impact," he explained. Kirkhope's comments follow a similar situation with The Super Mario Bros.

Movie, where he was not credited for the use of the DK Rap.

He shared that he had appealed to Nintendo, highlighting that giving a few lines of text in movie credits for song recognition mattered deeply to the creators.

"By the time the credits roll, the theaters are usually empty—except perhaps for me and my family.

But Nintendo’s policy did not change," he observed. Despite lacking official credit, Kirkhope maintains good spirits about the ongoing situation.

He joked that his gravestone would probably read: "Here lies the body of Grant Kirkhope—he wrote the DK Rap and the GoldenEye Pause Music—nothing else will matter!" Donkey Kong Bananza is now available for the Nintendo Switch via the eShop, offering fans a new adventure with familiar, fan-favorite musical moments revived.

The DK Rap’s inclusion cements its enduring place in Nintendo history, even as the debate over composer recognition continues.

While industry policies may mean Kirkhope’s name is missing from the credits, his contributions continue to resonate with fans and the gaming community alike. As players dive into Donkey Kong Bananza and encounter the memorable rap once again, the significance of video game composers in shaping the culture and legacy of franchises like Donkey Kong cannot be understated.

Nintendo’s adherence to its crediting policies highlights an ongoing industry-wide conversation about recognizing creative talent in major game releases and adaptations.

Donkey Kong Nintendo Donkey Kong Bananza Grant Kirkhope Grant DK Rap Donkey Kong 64 Koji Kondo The Super Mario Bros. Movie eShop Nintendo Switch