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DK Rap

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
"DK Rap"
Songby George Andreas andChris Sutherland
from the albumDonkey Kong 64 Original Soundtrack
ReleasedNovember 24, 1999
Recorded1999
Genre
Songwriter(s)Grant Kirkhope
Lyricist(s)George Andreas
Audio sample
"DK Rap"

The "DK Rap"is the introduction theme to the 1999Nintendo 64video gameDonkey Kong 64.Originally conceived byRaredesigner George Andreas and composed byGrant Kirkhope,Andreas co-wrote and performed the lyrics, with Rare staffers joining in the chorus. Its lyrics describe the five playable characters in the game, with Kirkhope's goal to juxtapose the previous iteration of Donkey Kong fromDonkey Kong Countryagainst the new one.

The "DK Rap" is the first song in the 1999Donkey Kong 64 Original Soundtrack,where it was named "Da Banana Bunch". Despite Grant Kirkhope not intending to make a serious rap, the "DK Rap" has received generally mixed reception and has been awarded "dubious awards" for its quality. The song has since been remixed in otherNintendogames.

Concept and history

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All five of the playable characters, dubbed the "DK Crew", are introduced in the song.

The lyrics to the "DK Rap" describe the five playable characters, one per verse:Donkey Kong,Diddy Kong,Tiny Kong,Lanky Kong,andChunky Kong.The rap was originally conceived byDonkey Kong 64designer George Andreas and composed byGrant Kirkhope.[2]Andreas took inspiration from the bandRun-DMC.[3]Kirkhope's goal was to juxtapose Donkey Kong as seen inDonkey Kong Countryversus his then-newest appearance. Andreas wrote and performed the song's lyrics (alongsideDonkey Kong 64lead programmerChris Sutherland) while Kirkhope wrote the tune. The chorus includesRarestaffers such as Gregg Mayles, Steve Mayles, Ed Bryan, and Chris Peil. Each character's verse features instrumentals reflecting the actual instruments that the characters possess.[3]

Kirkhope stated that the DK Rap was not supposed to be a "serious rap" but rather a joke.[1][2]Consumer and critical reaction was generally negative, however, having interpreted the song as being serious.[3]Kirkhope felt surprised that Nintendo objected to the use of the word "hell" and attributed it to theBible Beltin the United States.[3]The "DK Rap" was not localized for the Japanese release ofDonkey Kong 64,nor was it subtitled.[4]Video game designerShigesato Itoiprovided a Japanese translation of the "DK Rap" on his personal website.[4]

The "DK Rap" was remixed inSuper Smash Bros. Melee.Composer Hirokazu Ando was originally going to be in charge of composition of the song, but due to technical issues, directorMasahiro Sakuraiand composer Shogo Sakai had to assist. To overcome these issues, they played the background audio and recorded the rap over it. Because the remixed rap is faster, it was not possible for them to record it live. Some characters in the theme have higher tempos than others. While the DJ (James W. Norwood Jr.) practiced, they recorded him, using what good came out of it and mi xing it together. The rap took two days to record.[5]

Legacy

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The "DK Rap" is the first song in the 1999Donkey Kong 64 Original Soundtrack,where it was named "Da Banana Bunch".[6]Around the release ofDonkey Kong 64,Nintendo of America hosted a promotion called the "DK Rap Attack Contest" where people could submit a recording of themselves singing their own version of the "DK Rap". The winner would receive aDonkey Kong 64/Nintendo 64 console bundle, a trip to Nintendo of America's headquarters inRedmond, Washington,and their video would be hosted on the officialDonkey Kong 64website. The song was made available for download on Nintendo's website for use with this promotion.[7]

A new version of the "DK Rap" was featured in the 2001GameCubeNintendo crossoverfighting gameSuper Smash Bros. Melee,performed by James W. Norwood Jr. who provided different voices for every verse. The original theme features the word "hell", which was changed to "heck" for theMeleerelease.[3]This version was later reused in subsequentSuper Smash Bros.games, and was featured as a song in the 2003 GameCubemusic gameDonkey Konga.[8]It was also released on the albumDonkey Konga: The Hottest Hits.[9]In English-language versions ofSuper Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS and Wii U,andSuper Smash Bros. Ultimate,Donkey Kong's crowd cheer is a variant of the "DK Rap". As part of aKickstarterstretch goal, Grant Kirkhope wrote aspiritual successorto the "DK Rap", titled the "Yooka-Laylee Rap", forYooka-Laylee.[10]

The "DK Rap" is featured as Donkey Kong's entrance theme inThe Super Mario Bros. Movie.Seth Rogen,who voices Donkey Kong in the film, noted the song's reputation as "one of the worst rap songs of all time" but also stated that he was amused by it upon listening to it in full for the first time, giving it a "10 out of 10 bananas" rating.[11]However, Grant Kirkhope criticized the film for not crediting him.[12]

Reception

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Grant Kirkhope, the game's composer, expressed joy that more people consider the song funny.[3]

Since its appearance inDonkey Kong 64,the "DK Rap" has received generally mixed reception. It was awarded "dubious awards" for its quality. It also received criticism for its use of the word "hell" despite itsESRBrating.[13]1Up's Scott Sharkey included it in his list of the "top 5 cringe-inducing videogame raps" and claimed that it was a "100% reliable method of emptying the place" in which he took his cigarette breaks.[14]He also called it one of the worst video game themes and called it "so-bad-it's-good" due to its "fundamental cluelessness". He stated, "Really, when I think of the improvisational musical art of the inner city underclasses the first thing that comes to mind is a tie-wearing Japanese gorilla. Yeah."[15]Destructoid's Dale North included it in his list of the most obnoxious video game songs and joked that he imagined theFresh Prince of Bel AircharacterCarlton Banksdancing to it.[16]The song was performed on apopshow in Japan by a high-profile Japanese rapper.[3]Composer Grant Kirkhope compared the theme's recent resurgence to popularity, including as anInternet meme,to the bandABBAand expressed joy that more people consider the song funny.[3]Video Game Music Online criticized theDonkey Kongaalbum remix due to its new vocalist and attempt to introduce authentic rap elements.[9]

NGamer UKincluded it in their article about the "evil side of kiddy gaming" and called it "so-bad-it'll-make-your-ears-bleed rotten".[17]The "DK Rap" was included inIGN's list of the worst in-game quotes at number eight. The staff claimed that the song "comes to mind" when they think of video game's "all-time terrible moments". They stated that it was the "only song in history that sounds like vomit".[18]Game Informer's O'Dell Harmon included it at #2 in his list of the "freshest rap songs in video games".[19]GamesRadar's Bob Mackey claimed that the "DK Rap" was the biggest addition to the Donkey Kong character inDonkey Kong 64.[20]Composer Grant Kirkhope stated that staff ofBig Huge Games(the company at which he was employed at the time) made fun of him for the song and added that histombstonewill read, "here lies the body of Grant Kirkhope, he wrote the DK Rap, may God have mercy on his soul".[2]The lyric "His coconut gun can fire in spurts. If he shoots ya, it's gonna hurt!" was named the fourth worst game line ever in the January 2002 issue ofElectronic Gaming Monthly.[21]OC Weekly's Peter Mai included the song in his list of the "Top 5 Cheesiest (Yet Somehow Awesome) Video Game Songs". He stated, "[it is] probably the worst rap song ever written, but you know you still love it."[22]

See also

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References

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  1. ^abWeiss, Josh."'Donkey Kong 64' Composer Grant Kirkhope Looks Back On 20 Years Of The 'DK Rap'".Retrieved2019-11-29.
  2. ^abcGreening, Chris (May 2010)."Interview with Grant Kirkhope (May 2010)".Square Enix Music Online.Retrieved2014-06-05.
  3. ^abcdefgh"A Rare Breed Part 2 – Nintendo Nation talks to Grant Kirkhope".2012-09-14. Archived fromthe originalon 2012-10-26.Retrieved2014-06-05.
  4. ^abMandelin, Clyde (2013-07-01)."Q&A: What's the Donkey Kong 64 Rap Like in Japanese?".Legends of Localization.Retrieved2014-06-05.
  5. ^Brando (May 29, 2016)."Melee Music Developer Roundtable: Monkey Rap".Source Gaming.RetrievedJune 6,2019.
  6. ^"Donkey Kong 64 Soundtrack -Da Banana Bunch-".Video Game Music Online.August 2012.RetrievedJune 6,2019.
  7. ^"Chatter Like a Monkey and Win".IGN.1999-12-08.Retrieved2014-06-05.
  8. ^Castro, Juan (2004-09-23)."Donkey Konga".IGN.Retrieved2014-06-05.
  9. ^ab"Donkey Konga -The Hottest Hits-".Video Game Music Online.August 2012.RetrievedJune 6,2019.
  10. ^Vazquez, Suriel (April 1, 2017)."Yooka-Laylee Developer Thanks Fans With Homage To DK Rap".Game Informer.RetrievedJuly 15,2024.
  11. ^Bankhurst, Adam (2023-03-31)."The Super Mario Bros. Movie Will Feature the DK Rap, Which Seth Rogen Calls 'One of the Worst Rap Songs'".IGN.Retrieved2023-04-01.
  12. ^Ngan, Liv (5 April 2023)."Donkey Kong rap composer criticises Mario movie for not crediting him".Eurogamer.net.Retrieved5 April2023.
  13. ^Scullion, Chris (2013-10-26)."Retro Vault: Mario Sunshine, Aladdin, Majora's Mask".CVG Online.Retrieved2014-06-05.
  14. ^Sharkey, Scott."Top 5 Cringe Inducing Videogame Raps".1Up.Archived fromthe originalon 2014-06-05.Retrieved2014-06-05.
  15. ^Sharkey, Scott (2011-10-24)."The Nine Worst Video Game Themes".1Up.Archived fromthe originalon 2014-06-05.Retrieved2014-06-05.
  16. ^North, Dale (2008-09-12)."The Sound Card 005: The top ten most obnoxious game songs".Destructoid.Retrieved2014-06-05.
  17. ^"Sintendo: The evil side of kiddy gaming".GamesRadar.2008-06-13.Retrieved2014-06-05.
  18. ^"Top 10 Tuesday: Worst In-Game Quotes".IGN.2006-04-18.Retrieved2014-06-05.
  19. ^Harmon, O'Dell (2012-12-18)."The Freshest Rap Songs In Video Games".Game Informer.Retrieved2014-06-05.
  20. ^Mackey, Bob (2014-02-27)."It's On Like... Him: How Donkey Kong's design has evolved over three decades".GamesRadar.Retrieved2014-06-05.
  21. ^Seanbaby(January 2002). "EGM's Crapstravaganza 20 Worst Games Ever".Electronic Gaming Monthly.No. 150. p. 162.
  22. ^Mai, Peter (2011-08-10)."Top 5 Cheesiest (Yet Somehow Awesome) Video Game Songs".OC Weekly.Retrieved2019-06-11.
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