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Grant Kirkhope says Donkey Kong 64's rap was always meant to be a joke, leaving him surprised when people didn't get it

Joke's on you
by rawmeatcowboy
22 October 2020
GN Version 5.0

Donkey Kong 64 is remembered for a lot of reasons, but perhaps none moreso than the DK Rap. The tune is a big part of Nintendo history nowadays, and is great for a chuckle. When the game first launched, plenty of people found the song to be quite cringeworthy.

In an interview with GamesRadar, composer Grant Kirkhope opens up about the song, and reveals that it was always meant to be tongue-in-cheek.

"I thought everyone would get the joke but no one did. It was the first time I'd ever had anyone write something negative about my music. I'd been fortunate up until then - people liked my tunes most of the time - and it was supposed to be a joke track about monkeys rapping about bananas and grapes, so I felt a little bit hard done to. I thought everyone would get the joke but no one did... it was the first time I'd ever had anyone write something negative about my music.

I'm glad I wrote it. It's been a fun thing to have people take the mickey out of me for years about and, you know, my 17-year-old son and all of his mates know it. None of those guys were born when I did that and it's incredible that they know every word."

[Link]