Hours before Neil Young was due to deliver his next album to his label, he took a bow in Beverly Hills for his diverse body of work on Monday, and jokingly threatened to venture into rap.

Young, 59, was honored with the Founders Award by the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP), which decreed that his "musical legacy will continue to rock the free world and enrich generations to come."

The tribute took place during the performing rights group's 22nd annual pop music awards, which honored the writers and copyright owners of the most performed songs of 2004. Perhaps because many of ASCAP's top 50 songs were from the urban genre -- headed by hip-hop duo OutKast's song of the year, "Hey Ya!" -- Young declared his love for rap music.

"Most things I soak up, and it comes out here and there, so keep your eyes peeled," he said to laughter among the black-tie audience at the Beverly Hilton Hotel. "Anyway, I guess my mission now is to boldly go where no hippie has ever gone before."

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