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Jussie Smollett had another brush with the law -- only this time the crime was for real, and it involved one of his closest family members!

Sources with direct knowledge tell TMZ ... Jussie's mom, Janet, had her L.A. home nearly burglarized by a couple of would-be thieves Monday night -- and her actor son immediately rushed to her side to make sure she was all right. Thankfully, she was.

Here's how it all went down ... two prowlers showed up at Janet's house and tried to smash open a back door, causing $300 in damage to a window. We're told the suspects were unable to get inside her residence.

Diddy is taking another bite at the apple ... trying to get himself released on bond, 3 weeks after he was arrested and thrown behind bars.

The rap mogul's attorneys just filed new legal docs, obtained by TMZ, appealing the most recent order denying him bond.

In the docs, Diddy's legal team argues he poses no conceivable flight risk ... contrary to what federal prosecutors have been claiming.

Dak Prescott's mansion in Texas was reduced to nothing more than a pile of rubble on Tuesday ... and the Dallas Cowboys superstar watched all of its destruction from just feet away.

But, before you panic ... the demolition was all planned -- as a witness tells TMZ Sports the 31-year-old informed his neighbors he's simply tearing down the spot in order to rebuild a more modern home that's better suited for his current needs.

Prescott actually enlisted the guys over at Dude Perfect to help him with the bulldozing ... and, check out some footage we obtained from the scene, the trick-shot artists filmed the smashing -- even at one point using a drone to capture the action.

10/9 9:50 AM PT -- N3on says he's been banned from filming in Los Angeles and has to leave the city and find somewhere else to continue his live stream for the duration of his 30-day show.

N3on says he had his filming license stripped, and takes some shots at the folks behind the decision.

Kick streamer N3on ended up in handcuffs with his fellow roommates and content creators after they got swatted during their 24/7 live stream ... and now they have to find a new place to live.

N3on -- who is super popular with the Gen Z crowd -- tells TMZ ... they were sleeping when cops showed up, and they were still barely waking up when they found themselves outside on the sidewalk in cuffs.

The crew is live streaming 24/7 for 30 days on Kick -- a sort of reality show similar to "Big Brother" -- and N3on says they know the person who swatted them ... and claims they're demanding money, which N3on says he won't pay.

Josh Flagg is close to adding a new property to his ever-growing real estate portfolio ... TMZ has learned he's close to scooping up Charlie Puth’s $14 million Beverly Hills pad.

Sources familiar with the situation tell TMZ … The "Million Dollar Listing Los Angeles" star is under contract to purchase the singer-songwriter's 5-bedroom, 4-bathroom abode ...  located in the wealthy Trousdale Estates neighborhood.

The real estate investor is close to nabbing this hot property under the radar, as we're told the deal is an off-market transaction. Though, it’s currently unclear what Josh offered to pay Charlie for the residence.

Cassie was pushing through with Diddy during their tough years together ... making it seem like all was well in their relationship while onstage with him in Dubai -- before finally calling it quits.

TMZ obtained this clip of Cassie playing along with Diddy during his first-ever Dubai performance in April 2018, and you can see she was doing her best as the rapper performed "I Need a Girl (Part 2)" at the opening night of the now-closed Gotha Nightclub.

On the surface, the pair looked happy, with Cassie glowing as she busted out some moves. She got up close to share a hug with him before making her move way to the edge of the stage.

Carole Baskin bought a home late last year ... with funds from her Big Cat Rescue org ... TMZ has learned.

Carole and her husband Howard got the Odessa, FL house for $895,000. The deed, obtained by TMZ, lists Big Cat Rescue as the property owner. There is no mortgage evident from the deed, so it appears the property was purchased outright with Big Cat Rescue funds.

BCR is a charitable org and Carole is the CEO. Carole tells TMZ, she bought the place after she and Howard sold their sanctuary/headquarters and moved the cats to the Turpentine Creek Wildlife Refuge in Arkansas.

Tekashi 6ix9ine isn't sweatin' the fine print in his new record deal ... which requires the rapper to stay out of trouble to keep his payday.

We caught up with the musical artist on "TMZ Live" Tuesday, where he explained why the special clause in his new contract doesn't have him worried. As he put it ...  he views himself as a "squeaky clean" individual -- and trouble just happens to find him "all the time."

At the end of September, Tekashi 6ix9ine found himself in a heated exchange outside a nightclub in Miami, and was sued for revenge porn by an ex-girlfriend. So, here's hoping all this drama was settled before 69 signed on the dotted line!!!

Benzino remembers his relationship with Tupac Shakur as being a positive one but says the events that unfolded after they recorded their song permanently damaged rap as we know it!!!

TMZ Hip Hop spoke to Benzino amid his recent appearance on TV One's "Celebrity Crime Files" outlining the 1994 Quad Studios Shooting that left Pac with 5 gunshot wounds and a burning vendetta, against all odds.

Benzino actually recorded his "Killa" collab with Tupac and Freddie The Foxx aka Bumpy Knuckles (more on that later) at Quad Studios shortly before the shooting, and recalls Tupac surrounded himself with guys heavier in the street afterward.

Sage The Gemini -- of "Red Nose" and "Gas Pedal" fame -- is being accused of sexual assault inside the home of his most famous collaborator ... Chris Brown!!!

LAPD sources tell TMZ Hip Hop a woman filed a police report Monday claiming to have been sexually assaulted by Sage back in September 2017.

The woman told cops she initially met Sage on social media, and he invited her to Chris' house.

Ryan Seacrest is just a few weeks into his new gig hosting "Wheel of Fortune" ... and he's still spinning with excitement!

We caught up with Ryan in NYC Monday, and he was all smiles, telling us he's having a total ball giving away piles of cash -- and a new car here and there.

Ryan, who was joined by sister Meredith, added he always knew the hosting gig would be a blast, and he's now at the point where he's just trying to contain his excitement about the whole thing.

Travis Kelce and Taylor Swift's romance is getting spooky -- the NFL superstar and pop singer were front and center at an annual Halloween event in Calabasas ... in pumpkin form!!

The festive tribute to the power couple was part of the Nights of the Jack at the King Gillette Ranch this weekend ... which is known to feature familiar faces in sports and entertainment etched on the sides of squashes.

Naturally, the event had to show love to the biggest relationship around at the moment ... as their love has taken the world by storm.

"American Horror Story" alum Naomi Grossman is coming to Ryan Murphy's defense amid the growing debate surrounding "Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story."

ICYMI ... the Menendez brothers have made it clear they aren't fans of the show, with EM previously bashing the Netflix drama as a "dishonest portrayal of the tragedies surrounding our crime."

Yet, when we caught up with Naomi in Santa Monica, California, she voiced her shock at the siblings' outrage ... since she felt the show painted Lyle and Erik as "total victims."

Tekashi 6ix9ine is taking his talents to Kartel Music ... signing a new record deal with the label that will pay him millions of dollars.

The rapper just inked a lucrative contract that calls for him to record a new album with Mexican regional artists and go on tour in the United States, Mexico and Central and South America.

According to the contract, obtained by TMZ, Tekashi is being paid $1 million for the album, which will feature 10 songs ... and he's going to make $250,000 for every concert of an upcoming tour. This all adds up to Tekashi potentially pocketing over $6 million.

Kevin McCall has some lofty dreams with his next project -- getting his family back into his good graces, with a best case scenario of even reuniting with his ex, Eva Marcille!!!

The R&B singer was hella optimistic at the Taglyan Complex during the weekend's Living Legends Foundation Awards where he outlined his plans to TMZ Hip Hop ... starting with his upcoming album "Black Friday."

Kevin tells us he's had a long journey for himself -- and he's still traveling. He hasn't spoken to Eva in some time but evokes the timeless beggar's anthem "On Bended Knee" by Boyz II Men to pinpoint his feelings.

Chris Brown will be tried in the court of public opinion when ID airs its 'History of Violence' documentary about him on October 27 ... a criminal assault on the truth, claims his longtime producer Roccstar!!!

TMZ Hip Hop linked up with Roccstar outside the Living Legends Foundation Awards, and he flat-out thinks Investigation Discovery is making a victim out of Chris Brown with its exposé of alleged behavior.

Roccstar says he's laced 5 Chris Brown albums featuring some of his biggest hits over the course of his career and describes him as the sweetest guy as can be ... no clue where those allegations are coming from!!!