Super Mario Bros. Movie: DK Rap Composer Takes to Twitter to Lament Lack of Credit

Grant Kirkhope, who has composed video game musics for decades, recently expressed his dismay that he was not credited for DK Rap in The Super Mario Bros. Movie.

DK Rap first appeared in developer Rare’s Donkey Kong 64 for the Nintendo 64 console, which was created by Kirkhope. It appears in the new movie, but doen’t credit the composer by name. Instead it simply reads: “From Donkey Kong 64.”

In a tweet expressing his disappointment, Kirkhope wrote: “I was really looking forward to see my name in the credits for the DK Rap, but alas as expected it’s not there.”

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

— Grant Kirkhope (@grantkirkhope) April 5, 2023

Interestingly, Mario’s original composer Koji Kondo is credited by name, as are those involved in songs featured elsewhere in the film, including The Beastie Boys’ “No Sleep Til Brooklyn” and A-Ha’s “Take On Me,” but the songs originating from video games simply say which game they were pulled from.

“I was really looking forward to see my name in the credits for the DK Rap, but alas as expected it’s not there”

Kirkhope isn’t the only snubbed composer either, as “Attack! Fury Bowser,” also just credits “From Super Mario 3D World + Bowser’s Fury,” but makes no mention of Daisuke Matsuka or James Phillipsen, who are the listed creators for that soundtrack.

Seth Rogen, who plays Donkey Kong in the film, previously joked that the DK Rap is “one of the worst rap songs of all time.” Kirkhope took the barb in stride, saying that he would have “burst with excitement” if he knew that it would go into a Mario movie back in 1997. But that hasn’t lessened his disappointment over his ommission from the credits.

In a reply to a commenter’s question, Kirkhope admitted that he has no idea if there’s any legal requirement for him to be credited by name.

I really have no idea Jon

— Grant Kirkhope (@grantkirkhope) April 5, 2023

The snub has brought attention once again to video game composers, who have been vocal in the past about not being properly credited for work.

IGN has reached out to Universal for comment.

Travid Northup is a freelance writer at IGN.