jay-timbo

Jay-Z has added another major player to the Roc Nation with the announcement on Wednesday (January 30) that super producerTimbaland is now in the fold.

With a picture of the two old friends and collaborators chilling in a studio, Jay broke the news on his “Life & Times” blog with the caption, “Roc Nation welcomes Timbaland to the family.” The news comes as Tim is back in the news thanks to his signature skittering beat on old friendJustin Timberlake’s comeback single, “Suit & Tie.”

The move makes sense, since Jay and Tim have a long, storied history making big hits, from 1998’s “Jigga What, Jigga Who” from the rapper’s third album, Vol. 2: Hard Knock Life to one of Jay-Z’s biggest hits, “Big Pimpin’,” from Vol. 3 … Life and Times of S. Carter. They hooked up again on 2003’s The Black Album for “Dirt Off Your Shoulder” and in 2009 on The Blueprint 3‘s “Off That” featuring Drake. Other tunes they’ve collaborated on include “Hola Hovito” from The Blueprint and “What They Gonna Do” and “The Bounce” from The Blueprint 2: The Gift & The Curse.

Tim’s long career as a producer goes back 20 years to his early work with Jodeci and Aaliyah. In the years since he’s worked with everyone from frequent collaborator Missy Elliot, to Janet Jackson, Usher, Nas, Eminem, No Doubt, Timberlake, Ludacris, Jennifer Lopez, Jamie Foxx, M.I.A., OneRepublic and Chris Brown.