Foxy Brown Battles Deafness

Foxy Brown‘s lawyer revealed the rapper is almost deaf in a recent court hearing in New York City.

The performer, whose real name is Inga Marchand, was in Manhattan Criminal Court December 5th for a hearing on charges of misdemeanor assault, attempted assault and harassment stemming from an August 2004 altercation at a Manhattan nail salon.

When the judge questioned why Marchand and her attorney, Joseph Tacopina, were exchanging notes, Tacopina revealed the performer is nearly deaf but wouldn’t say why.

“She can’t hear me. We have to write things back and forth,” Tacopina explained. “Anything I have to communicate with her now has to be written. It’s dialogue, communication.”

Brown has undergone one surgery and Tacopina said the prognosis is still undetermined but he’s hopeful the condition is reversible. He added she’ll undergo a second surgery.

Prosecutors claim Marchand attacked two nail salon employees — kicking one worker and hitting the other in the face — when they tried to collect payment for a manicure. Brown has said she’s innocent.

The case was postponed until December 23rd when Tacopina expects it will be resolved.

The Def Jam artist’s latest album, Black Rose, is scheduled to drop next year.