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LOL, Rick James talks about the good ol' days during his acceptance of an award. . .

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - After a tribute that carefully avoided any mention of his jail stint for violent crimes, funk pioneer Rick James wasted no time alluding to his dark days as he picked up a lifetime achievement award in Beverly Hills on Monday.

"Years ago, I would have used this for something totally different. Cocaine is a hell of a drug," James said, surveying the smooth glass surface of the Heritage Award statuette bestowed upon him by performing rights group ASCAP during its 17th annual Rhythm & Soul Awards at the Beverly Hilton Hotel.

James, best known for his 1981 hit "Super Freak (Part 1)," served two years in prison in the 1990s for two separate incidents in which he assaulted women while he was high on cocaine. After his release in 1996, he suffered a stroke, and has also been waylaid by hip surgery and heart failure.

At Monday's ceremony, James, 56, paid tribute to people who helped him become a star, such as Motown Records founder Berry Gordy Jr. and flamboyant bass virtuoso Bootsy Collins, who were both present, as well as his recently deceased parents.

Ever mindful of his bad-boy image, as parodied in cable channel Comedy Central's "Chapelle's Show," James wrapped his heartfelt speech with an emphatic "I'm Rick James, bitch."

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What do you put into your live sets that has made you a dancefloor favorite for the past decade?

"I’m a dance floor favorite? Great! I would say the passion that I feel for the music I buy and the honesty with how I play it. I play the records I love not the ones that simply work. I’ve never taken the easy music option (which would make me a lot more money by the way) but chosen to push people a little. I try to draw people in a new direction slightly and expand their taste a little more than other DJ’s." - Lee Burridge