LOS ANGELES: After 40 years of performing rock music, pop ballads and movie soundtracks, Elton John is looking to cross over to yet another musical genre – hip hop.

"I want to bring my songs and melodies to hip hop beats – a bit like 'No Diggity' by Blackstreet,"' John said in excerpts of an interview posted on Rolling Stone's website on Friday.

John told the music magazine he would like to work with producer Dr Dre and a variety of artists, although he had yet to to contact them.

"I want to work with Pharrell (Williams), Timbaland, Snoop (Dogg), Kanye (West), Eminem and just see what happens. It may be a disaster, it could be fantastic, but you don't know until you try," he said.

John is one of rock-n-roll's most prolific singer/songwriters and is known for flamboyant costumes and spectacular piano playing. His hits include Your Song, Rocket Man and Candle in the Wind.

The 59-year-old musician's next album, The Captain and the Kid is expected to be released in Autumn.

He soared to stardom in the 1970s and has maintained a legendary status, branching into writing songs for movies like The Lion King and Broadway plays like Aida.

But, hip hop?

Actually, John performed the song Stan with Eminem on 2001's telecast of the Grammys, the music industry's top awards, and the pair brought the house down.