DK Rap
The "DK Rap," also known as the Monkey Rap, is a rap song about Donkey Kong and his friends, which plays every time the player boots up Donkey Kong 64. The lyrics were written by Grant Kirkhope, and it was performed by George Andreas and Chris Sutherland.[1]
The DK Rap is very well-known for its "so bad it's good" rapping and lyrics—an intentional stylistic choice on Kirkhope's part.[1] The line "His coconut gun can fire in spurts. If he shoots ya, it's gonna hurt!" was once voted as the fourth worst line in a video game ever by the magazine Electronic Gaming Monthly in January 2002.[2] The song is heavily associated with the Donkey Kong franchise and with Rareware in general; many years later, Kirkhope wrote the "Yooka-Laylee Rap" for the game Yooka-Laylee as an homage to the DK Rap.
Description
The rap starts with Cranky Kong's hands mixing records on a turntable. The sequence then cuts to the five playable Kongs in a group; Chunky Kong is wearing a 1970s-era disco outfit, only to rush offscreen and change into his regular outfit. Throughout the rap, each Kong is introduced in this order: DK, Tiny, Lanky, Diddy, and Chunky. It explains each Kong's unique traits varying from their abilities, weapons, and instruments. In each of the Kong's verses, a different instrument can be heard: DK's is a muted trumpet, Tiny's is a saxophone, Lanky's is a trombone, Diddy's is a guitar, and Chunky's is a timpani. Near the end of the rap, Cranky starts to "take it to the fridge." An audience can be heard giving the five playable Kongs a standing ovation before Klump throws a grenade to the screen, ending the rap.
In the lyrics of the song, the Kongs' abilities, strengths, and weaknesses are described to the player. However, there are some false statements throughout the rap. During the line about Tiny that says "she can float through the air and climb up trees," Tiny is shown climbing up one of the two thick palm trees; while playing the game in Adventure Mode, only Chunky can climb thick palm trees while using his Hunky Chunky ability. Aside from Donkey Kong being described as "bigger" and "stronger," he is also described as "faster," despite being the second-slowest character in the game behind Chunky.
Super Smash Bros. series
The DK Rap was re-recorded for Super Smash Bros. Melee, where it was performed by James W. Norwood Jr., and it plays in the Kongo Jungle stage. The third and fifth verses describing Tiny Kong and Diddy Kong are sung faster, and the word "hell" was replaced by "heck."
This version of the DK Rap was featured in subsequent Super Smash Bros. titles: It appears in Super Smash Bros. Brawl as an unlockable song for the Jungle Japes stage, if the player obtains a CD for it. The arrangement returns in Super Smash Bros. for Wii U as an unlockable song for the Jungle Hijinxs stage, if the player gets a chain of 200 in Trophy Rush as Donkey Kong. In Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, the DK Rap is available from the start and can be played on every Donkey Kong series stage. In both Super Smash Bros. for Wii U and Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, the DK Rap contains only the verses for Donkey Kong, Tiny Kong, and Diddy Kong, cutting the length down to just under two minutes.
The Super Smash Bros. version of the DK Rap returns as a playable song in Donkey Konga.
Lyrics
Original version
Here, here, here we go
So they're finally here, performing for you
If you know the words, you can join in too
Put your hands together, if you want to clap
As we take you through this monkey rap!
Huh!DK! Donkey Kong!
He's the leader of the bunch, you know him well
He's finally back to kick some tail
His Coconut Gun can fire in spurts
If he shoots ya, it's gonna hurt!
He's bigger, faster, and stronger too
He's the first member of the D.K. crew!
Huh!DK! Donkey Kong!
DK! Donkey Kong is here!(Here we go)
This Kong's got style, so listen up, dudes
She can shrink in size, to suit her mood
She's quick and nimble when she needs to be
She can float through the air and climb up trees!
If you choose her, you'll not choose wrong
With a skip and a hop, she's one cool Kong!
Huh!DK! Donkey Kong!
He has no style, he has no grace
This Kong has a funny face
He can handstand when he needs to
And stretch his arms out, just for you
Inflate himself just like a balloon
This crazy Kong just digs this tune!
Huh!DK! Donkey Kong!
DK! Donkey Kong is here!He's back again and about time too
And this time he's in the mood
He can fly real high with his jetpack on
With his pistols out, he's one tough Kong!
He'll make you smile when he plays his tune
But Kremlings beware 'cause he's after you!
Huh!DK! Donkey Kong!
Huh!Finally, he's here for you
It's the last member of the D.K. crew!
This Kong's so strong, it isn't funny
Can make a Kremling cry out for mummy
Can pick up a boulder with relative ease
Makes crushing rocks seem such a breeze
He may move slow, he can't jump high
But this Kong's one hell of a guy!
Huh!Come on, Cranky, take it to the fridge!
Walnuts, peanuts, pineapple smells,
Grapes, melons, oranges, and coconut shells!
Ahh, yeah!Walnuts, peanuts, pineapple smells,
Grapes, melons, oranges, and coconut shells!
Ahh, yeah!
Super Smash Bros. version
Here, here, here we go
So they're finally here, performing for you
If you know the words, you can join in too
Put your hands together, if you want to clap
As we take you through this monkey rap!
Huh!DK! Donkey Kong!
He's the leader of the bunch, you know him well
He's finally back to kick some tailHis Coconut Gun can fire in spurts
If he shoots ya, it's gonna hurt!
He's bigger, faster, and stronger too
He's the first member of the D.K. crew!DK! Donkey Kong! (Hah!)
DK! Donkey Kong is here!This Kong's got style, so listen up, dudes
She can shrink in size, to suit her moodShe's quick and nimble when she needs to be
She can float through the air and climb up trees!If you choose her, you'll not choose wrong
With a skip and a hop, she's one cool Kong!DK! Donkey Kong!
He has no style, he has no grace
This Kong has a funny face
He can handstand when he needs to
And stretch his arms out, just for youInflate himself just like a balloon
This crazy Kong just digs this tune! (Hah!)DK! Donkey Kong!
DK! Donkey Kong is here!He's back again, it's about time too
And this time he's in the moodHe can fly real high with his jetpack on
With his pistols out, he's one tough Kong!
He'll make you smile when he plays his tuneBut Kremlings beware 'cause he's after you!
DK! Donkey Kong!
DK! Donkey Kong!
DK! Donkey Kong!
DK! Donkey Kong!Finally, he's here for you
He's the last member of the D.K. crew!
This Kong... so strong, it isn't funny
Can make a Kremling cry out for mummyCan pick up a boulder with relative ease
Makes crushing rocks seem such a breeze
He may move slow, he can't jump high
But this Kong's one heck of a guy!Come on, Cranky, take it to the fridge!
Walnuts, peanuts, pineapple smells,
Grapes, melons, oranges, and coconut shells!
Walnuts, peanuts, pineapple smells,
Grapes, melons, oranges, and coconut shells! Oh, yeah!So they're finally here, performing for you
If you know the words, you can join in too
Put your hands together, if you want to clap
As we take you through this monkey rap!
Japanese lyrics
It has been requested that this section be rewritten and expanded to include more information. Reason: include romanization and translation
| Japanese scripta |
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Media
 DK Rap - The rap's introductory verse | File info |
| Kongo Jungle - The arrangement of the DK Rap used for the Kongo Jungle stage in Super Smash Bros. Melee | File info |
Allusions to the song
The DK Rap is mentioned in the Game Boy Advance remake of Donkey Kong Country 2, after Diddy completes the Funky's Flights mission "Cool Sounds." By returning Funky's boombox from the mission, he tells the Kongs that he can continue listening to the DK Rap all day. Donkey Kong's crowd cheer in Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS, Super Smash Bros. for Wii U, and Super Smash Bros. Ultimate references the song ("DK! Donkey Kong!") In the E3 2018 trailer for Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle's Donkey Kong Adventure DLC, Rabbid Cranky is seen playing part of the DK Rap on a turntable, before being interrupted by Rabbid Peach.[3]
The song is also often referenced in Donkey Kong's blurbs across game-adjacent material. His description on the Mario Party 10 website stated that "He's finally back to kick some tail," also pointing out his return to the Mario Party series as a playable character. The Prima guide for Mario Kart 8 Deluxe calls Donkey Kong "The first member of the DK Crew".[4] Donkey Kong's website description for Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 ("He's so strong, it isn't funny.") references Chunky Kong's verse in the song.[5]
Yooka-Laylee Rap
To promote their then-upcoming video game Yooka-Laylee, a spiritual successor to classic Rareware games such as Banjo-Kazooie and Donkey Kong 64, Playtonic Games posted the "Yooka-Laylee Rap" on their YouTube channel.[6] The song was written by Grant Kirkhope as an homage to the DK Rap and, as such, contains a number of allusions to it. For instance, Yooka's verse states that he is "green as heck," a tongue-in-cheek reference to the word "hell" from the original DK Rap being replaced with "heck" in the Super Smash Bros. Melee rendition. In addition, Yooka is described as "quick" and "nimble," a nod to Tiny Kong's verse. The general melody is noticeably very similar to the DK Rap.
Notes
a - The translated lyrics are not present within the game. Instead, they are in the Japanese instruction manual.[7]
References
- ^ a b Donkey Kong 64 Video Game Music Compositions. Grantkirkhope.com. December 25, 2015 snapshot via Wayback Machine.
- ^ Electronic Gaming Monthly issue 150, pg. 162.
- ^ Nintendo (June 12, 2018). Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle: Donkey Kong Adventure - Release Date Announcement - Nintendo E3 2018. YouTube. Retrieved April 29, 2019
- ^ Joe Epstein, Garitt Rocha, Alexander Musa. Mario Kart 8 Deluxe Prima Official Guide. Page 24.
- ^ Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020. olympicvideogames.com. Retrieved November 3, 2019.
- ^ Playtonic Games (April 1, 2017). The Yooka-Laylee Rap! YouTube. Retrieved November 3, 2019.
- ^ Japanese Donkey Kong 64 instruction booklet (PDF). nintendo.net. Retrieved April 11, 2021.
