Arista Records released the song as Stone's solo debut single in July 1999. It earned generally positive reviews from music critics and earned Stone a Best New Artist nomination at the 2000 Soul Train Music Awards. On the charts, it reached number nine on the US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs and also topped Billboard's Adult R&B Songs chart. Nigerian photographer and filmmaker Andrew Dosunmu produced an accompanying music video for "No More Rain (In This Cloud)."
Background
"No More Rain (In This Cloud)" was written by Stone along with Bert Williams and Gordon Chambers, while production on the song was overseen by Stone herself.[3] It contains excerpts of American R&B group Gladys Knight & the Pips's 1972 record "Neither One of Us (Wants to Be the First to Say Goodbye)" as written by Jim Weatherly.[3] Due to the sample, Weatherly is also credited as a songwriter on "No More Rain (In This Cloud)."[3] The song and its uplifting nature were largely inspired by the birth of Stone's son Michael D'Angelo Archer II, her only child with neo soul singer D'Angelo, who saved her from a state of depression.[4]Billboard magazine noted that the song largely "focuses on the emotions associated with the end of a relationship."[5]
Critical reception
"No More Rain (In This Cloud)" received generally favorable reviews from music critics and earned Stone a nomination for Best New Artist at the 2000 Soul Train Music Awards.[6]Entertainment Weekly critic Laura Morgan wrote: "Stone sings like a recovering victim of macho mistreatment. When she croons "My sunshine has come" on "No More Rain," the illumination feels like a hard-won victory."[7]AllMusic editor Theresa E. LaVeck called the song a "beautiful standout single,"[8] while BBC Music described "No More Rain (In This Cloud)" as "sunny" and "soulful."[9]
Chuck Taylor from Billboard remarked that the song possesses "the retro, '70s-vintage musical backdrop that much of the moment's revolutionary R&B-oriented movement is going for, along with a vocal that no one will question." He further wrote: "Commanding and yet supple, Stone sounds like a long-lived vet in her approach to this track about cleansing one's soul as the rain of life is at last done, with thoughts of rebirth close at heart. This incredibly effective track will certainly ignite, particularly in light of the artist's talk-back techniques throughout the song that will leave listeners convinced [...] that there's a new voice in town. Stone is destined for abundant rewards; one listen, and the truth will ring clearly."[10]
Music video
A music video for "No More Rain (In This Cloud)" was directed by Nigerian photographer and filmmaker Andrew Dosunmu.[11]
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