Jay-Z has expanded his Roc Nation family by signing longtime collaborator Timbaland. The alliance was announced on Jay’s LifeandTimes website, clearing the way for a Timbaland resurgence.

The news comes after Justin Timberlake released his Timbaland-produced comeback track “Suit And Tie,” whetting the appetite for fans who long for the sounds of 2006′s “SexyBack.”

While the signing to Roc Nation surely means more collaborations for Timbaland, it’s an expected turn of events. Timbaland has produced some of Jay-Z’s biggest works, including the classic “Big Pimpin’,” from Vol. 3 … Life and Times of S. Carter.

As a veteran producer, Timbaland has worked in many genres and he’s crafted tunes for a long list of artists (Chris Brown, Eminem, No Doubt among them) but he began in the ’90s helping to craft the R&B New Jack Swing sound of Jodeci and Aaliyah.

He is immediately slated to work with Timberlake on the singer’s The 20/20 Experience album.

Timbaland will be joining a Roc Nation roster that includes Rihanna, Shakira, Rita Ora, J. Cole, Melanie Fiona and many others.

–Erik Parker, Radio.com