Rapper Battling Hearing Loss

(AP)  Rapper Foxy Brown says she hasn't heard another person's voice in six months and will have surgery early next year to restore her hearing.

The 26-year-old rapper told reporters Thursday that she's been diagnosed with sudden hearing loss while she was recording her upcoming album.

Brown, her voice breaking, asked fans for their prayers and compassion. She was accompanied by supporters including Russell Simmons and his wife, Kimora Lee Simmons, and Brown's new lawyer, Joseph Fleming. Brown's former lawyer, Joseph Tacopina, disclosed her hearing loss last week.

A medical consultant, Laura Arias, refused to give any details on the surgery. Brown said she'll return to recording as soon as possible.

Fleming said he's "cautiously optimistic" that an agreement will be reached with prosecutors prior to her next court appearance on December 23rd.

Brown, whose real name is Inga Marchand, has refused at least two misdemeanor plea deals that would have let her avoid any jail time for allegedly assaulting two nail salon workers last year in a fight over payment for a manicure at a Manhattan nail salon.