Donkey Kong 64 turns 25 on November 22, and Screen Rant is happy to share a way to celebrate, courtesy of game composer Grant Kirkhope and Materia Collective. On November 22, Kirkhope will release Rare Treats: DONKEY KONG 64 Revisited, a new version of the game’s soundtrack re-arranged and revisited by its original composer. The album will feature 18 tracks and will be available to stream and for purchase on CD and vinyl.
Screen Rant is thrilled to debut Kirkhope’s reimagining of the infamous “DK Rap”, this time featuring Washington DC-area-based rapper Substantial. The “DK Rap” received a harsh response when it first appeared in Donkey Kong 64, but has finally found a place in the hearts of listeners—and in The Super Mario Bros. Movie. Take a listen to Kirkhope’s new take on the piece, below, and get ready to check out the full album on November 22.
How Grant Kirkhope’s Music & The DK Rap Helped Define A Generation
The Nintendo 64 was one of the most influential video game consoles ever made and marked a huge leap forward in capability from Nintendo’s previous console, the Super Nintendo Entertainment System (it is so beloved that Analogue is making Analogue 3D, a reimagined version of the console). The N64’s games, and their music, are burned into the memories of people who played them during the console’s late 1990s heyday. And except for the Marios and Zeldas, most of the best-loved N64 games were scored by Grant Kirkhope through the composer’s collaboration with the development company Rare.
From 1997 to 2000, Kirkhope turned in a string of scores for games that stand tall in the medium’s history. 1997 saw the release of GoldenEye 007, a game that revolutionized and tapped into the multiplayer potential of first-person shooters—and which boasts a score by Kirkhope, Graeme Norgate, and Robin Beanland. The following year, Rare dropped Banjo-Kazooie, a quirky animal adventure odyssey that would go on to become one of the console’s best-selling titles. Kirkhope’s jaunty music for that game is instantly recognizable and still has the power to flood listeners with nostalgia.
Donkey Kong 64 was the third game in Kirkhope’s bestselling N64 run. The goodwill Kirkhope had built up with GoldenEye 007 and Banjo-Kazooie is at least a small part of why “The DK Rap” had such a harsh reception upon release, as listeners were not accustomed to a tongue-in-cheek rap being a part of a Rare game (To this day, Kirkhope jokingly apologizes for “The DK Rap” now and then). Kirkhope would go on to score hit Banjo-Kazooie sequel Banjo-Tooie and beloved GoldenEye 007 spiritual successor Perfect Dark for the following year, further cementing his legacy as one of the most consequential composers of that console era.
Rare Treats: DONKEY KONG 64 Revisited will be released on November 22 via Materia Collective. Check it out here.
