DK Rap: Difference between revisions

[[File:DK64 DK Rap.png|thumb|300px|The DK crew, dancing to the 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]].<ref name="site">[http://web.archive.org/web/20151225105231/http://www.grantkirkhope.com/donkeykong64.html Donkey Kong 64 Video Game Music Compositions]. ''Grantkirkhope.com''. December 25, 2015 snapshot via Wayback Machine.</ref>

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.<ref name="site"/> 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 ''[[Wikipedia:Electronic Gaming Monthly|Electric Gaming Monthly]]'' in January 2002.{{ref needed}} The song is heavily associated with the [[Donkey Kong (franchise)|''Donkey Kong'' franchise]] and with [[Rare Ltd.|Rareware]] in general; many years later, Kirkhope wrote the "Yooka-Laylee Rap" for the game ''[[wikipedia:Yooka-Laylee|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 Kong|Tiny]], [[Lanky Kong|Lanky]], [[Diddy Kong|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 {{wp|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 Kong's 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 Falls|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)|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)|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]]''.

He may move slow, he can't jump high<br>  

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!width=300px|Japanese script<ref group=note>The translated lyrics are not present within the game. Instead, they are in the [http://m1.nintendo.net/docvc/NUS/JPN/NDOJ/NDOJ_J.pdf Japanese instruction manual].</ref>

 

|type1=audio

|name1=DKRap

|pipe1=DK Rap

==Allusions to the song==

The DK Rap is mentioned in the [[Game Boy Advance]] remake of ''[[Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest|Donkey Kong Country 2]]'', after Diddy completes the [[Funky's Flights (Bonus Game)|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. In the E3 2018 trailer for ''[[Mario + Rabbids: Kingdom Battle]]'''s [[Donkey Kong Adventure]] DLC, [[Rabbid Cranky]] is seen playing on a turntable with part of the DK Rap playing, before being interrupted by [[Rabbid Peach]].<ref>Nintendo (June 12, 2018) [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kYE7i3RWL1k Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle: Donkey Kong Adventure - Release Date Announcement - Nintendo E3 2018] ''YouTube''. Retrieved April 29, 2019</ref>

 

The DK Rap was also referenced on the ''[[Mario Party 10]]'' website in Donkey Kong's description, which stated that "''He's finally back to kick some tail,''" also pointing out his return to the ''[[Mario Party (series)|Mario Party]]'' series as a playable character. Similarly, Donkey Kong's website description for ''[[Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020]]'' references Chunky Kong's verse in the song, saying, "''He's so strong, it isn't funny.''"<ref>[https://www.olympicvideogames.com/marioandsonic/us/index.html Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020]. ''Olympicvideogames.com''. Retrieved November 3, 2019.</ref>

 

===Yooka-Laylee Rap===

To promote their then-upcoming video game ''{{wp|Yooka-Laylee}}'', a spiritual successor to classic Rareware games such as ''{{wp|Banjo-Kazooie}}'' and ''Donkey Kong 64'', Playtonic Games posted the "Yooka-Laylee Rap" on their YouTube channel.<ref>Playtonic Games (April 1, 2017). [https://youtu.be/9mSzJj1c1z0 The Yooka-Laylee Rap!] ''YouTube''. Retrieved November 3, 2019.</ref> 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.

[[Category:Songs]]