▁of ▁ly ric ist ▁S age ▁Francis ▁and ▁beat maker ▁Be ats . ▁The ▁du o ▁came ▁to ▁attention ▁with ▁their ▁first ▁single , ▁the ▁" Drop ▁Bass " ▁b / w ▁" B ounce " ▁on ▁E merge ▁Music ▁in ▁ 1 9 9 9 . ▁The ▁follow - up ▁release ▁in ▁ 2 0 0 0 ▁was ▁the ▁" All ▁Word , ▁No ▁Play " ▁vin yl ▁single . ▁Francis ’ ▁self - re leased ▁" S ick ▁Of " ▁series ▁also ▁included ▁some ▁Non - Pro ph ets ▁material . ▁ ▁Their ▁first ▁album , ▁Hope ▁was ▁released ▁on ▁Lex ▁Records ▁in ▁October ▁ 2 0 0 3 . ▁The ▁album ▁was ▁pra ised ▁almost ▁un anim ously ▁by ▁critics . ▁For ▁example , ▁it ▁received ▁a ▁rating ▁of ▁▁ 9 . 2 ▁out ▁of ▁a ▁possible ▁ 1 0 ▁on ▁the ▁ever ▁fick le ▁P itch f ork ▁Media . ▁Hope ▁was ▁also ▁nominated ▁by ▁Neil ▁Stra uss ▁for ▁the ▁Short list ▁Music ▁Prize ▁of ▁ 2 0 0 4 . ▁ ▁In ▁early ▁ 2 0 0 4 , ▁they ▁tou red ▁the ▁United ▁States ▁on ▁the ▁inf am ous ▁ 4 0 - city ▁F uck ▁Clear ▁Channel ▁tour . ▁ ▁Joe ▁Be ats ▁& ▁Bla k ▁Joe ▁Be ats ▁& ▁Bla k ▁came ▁together ▁during ▁significant ▁p aus es ▁in ▁both ▁of ▁their ▁former ▁groups ▁( Non - Pro ph ets ▁and ▁One ▁Drop ). ▁▁ ▁Despite ▁living ▁over ▁ 1 2 0 0 ▁miles ▁apart