Hurt No More received generally positive reviews from music critics. Allmusic editor Andy Kellman called the album "one of the finest R&B albums of the year." He found that while "nothing about Hurt No More is radically exceptional, it is, however, full of small surprises [and] as rich as humbled, sincerely sensitive male R&B gets in 2004."[2]USA Today writer Steve Jones wrote that "in his second solo album, Winans spends much of his time taking the blows from all sorts of bad relationships [...] After years of playing in the background, it seems that the talented Winans is ready for his close-up."[5]Vibe editor Tim Bower called the album a "charming throwback."[6] Jon Caramanica from Rolling Stone rated Hurt No More two out of five starts. He felt that "though his melodies are strong, his lyrics lack punch. And while his voice quivers with hurt, it never achieves true angst, suggesting that even heartbreak can be smoothed over."[4]
Hurt No More debuted at number two on the US Billboard 200 behind Usher's Confessions (2004), and atop the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart, selling 223,000 copies in its first week.[7] It also debuted and peaked at number three on the UK Albums Chart.[8] "I Don't Wanna Know" was issued as the album's lead single. Based on a sample of the song "Boadicea" by Irish singer Enya from her 1987 self-titled album which came to prominence on The Fugees track "Ready or Not" from the album The Score (1996), the song features a rap by P. Diddy.[7] "I Don't Wanna Know" was released in early 2004 and become a worldwide hit, reaching number in Germany and on the US BillboardRhythmic Top 40, also peaking at number two on the Billboard Hot 100.[7]