De La Soul offers music for free as Valentine's Day gift to fans

De La Soul is giving out a big valentine to hip-hop fans.

The acclaimed rap trio unleashed its entire catalog of music online Friday, available to download for free on the group's official website, as a special gift just in time for Valentine's Day.

"It's about allowing our fans who have been looking and trying to get a hold of our music to have access to it," De La Soul member Posdnuos told Rolling Stone.

"It's been too long where our fans haven't had access to everything. This is our way of showing them how much we love them."

The generous offering also marks the 25th anniversary of the release of the group's historic "3 Feet High and Rising" album, often cited as one of the most influential hip-hop works of all time.

In 2010, the album was selected for preservation by the U.S. Library of Congress for its cultural significance.

There is a catch to the free music promotion. It only lasts for 25 hours -- meaning fans will have until noon on Saturday to download hits like "Me, Myself and I."