The Kardashians

Lamar Odom is breaking his silence to rip his own father to shreds for claiming that Khloe Kardashian and her mother drove Lamar into crack addiction -- and he's also acknowledging, for the first time, he's in a "dark" place.

In the scathing message Lamar says, "How can a man who has NOT once called me to check on my well being have the nerve to talk so recklessly about his own 'son'. He is my downfall!"

Lamar's angry letter, posted on Twitter, is a response to a published interview with Lamar's father, Joe Odom, in which he claimed the Kardashians cursed Lamar, ruined his career, and put so much pressure on him that he turned to drugs.

Joe also called Kris Jenner "an evil bitch."

Lamar's retort to his dad -- who's also battled drug addiction -- continues, "I have let this man and many others get away with a lot of s**t. He wasn't there 2 raise me. He was absent ALL of my life due to his own demons."

And Khloe's estranged husband fiercely defends her family, saying ... "He disrespecting the ONLY FAMILY that has loved me without expecting anything in return. They are the ONLY ones that have been here consistently 4 me during this dark time."

By "dark time" he could mean separation from Khloe, but as we've been telling you ... Lamar is deep in the grips of drug addiction -- so it could also be his first public admission of that battle.

Lamar added ... his father's "demons may be the ONLY thing he gave 2 me."

As for his current struggles -- addiction, marriage, basketball career -- Lamar says, "Only person 2 blame is myself. Say what you want about me but leave the ones who have done nothing but protect and love me out of this!"

Kim Kardashian says she hasn't been in hiding since the birth of North West ... it's debatable.

Kim was leaving a Sherman Oaks restaurant when one of the photogs asked her how it feels to be out of hiding. Her response is interesting.

The Hollywood post-baby game is to dump a lot of weight before stepping out in public. It's been 3 months since the kid was born and we've hardly seen Kim. She's definitely trimmed down and is pretty much back to being herself.

No surprise ... she's mum on Lamar.

Kourtney Kardashian and Scott Disick need bigger digs -- because procreation is on their minds ... again.

Living is hell for them right now ... The family of 4 is currently crammed into a 5,100 square foot box in Calabasas. With only 4 bedrooms and 5 baths ... it's like Ethiopia with an Armenian twist.

So ... we found out Kourtney is headed for greener pastures. She checked out this home in Hidden Hills -- 7,500 square feet, 6 bedrooms, 8 baths and, just a stone's throw from her mom, Kris Jenner, who lives 2 miles away.

BTW, the price is sure reasonable -- $6.495 mil.

Butt legends Kim Kardashian and Blac Chyna unleashed their A-bombs on an unsuspecting public this afternoon ... potentially scarring millions.

Kim was dressed like a fighter pilot -- armed with massive cleavage -- and convened with Nicki Minaj BC for a derriere summit (lunch date) of the Asses Powers.

Khloe Kardashian went clubbing last night ... and a security guard went clubbing too ... clubbing photogs.

Sources inside Tru nightclub in Hollywood tell TMZ ... Khloe was hanging out with The Game and a few of his friends. We're told she did not drink alcohol the entire evening.

Khloe left the club at around 2:30 AM, and as she beat a hasty retreat a security guard went a little nutzo on our camera guy ... pushing him to the ground.

Even though Khloe hit the clubs -- sans Lamar -- sources connected to K.K. tell us she has not given up on her marriage. She's trying to figure out how to convince Lamar to seek help ... something he's been unwilling to do. BTW ... she was wearing her wedding ring.

Kanye West and Kim Kardashian went back to Mecca last night -- Bev Hills -- for their first real night out on the town since North West jacked their lives!

They had dinner with Tyga and Blac Chyna at Hakkasan. Kim looks good and they seemed in a decent mood.

Here's what interesting .... the photogs -- including ours -- didn't ask one damn question. How 'bout, "How's the baby?" Something ... but we got nothing.

There's another way of looking at it, though. Maybe Kanye actually won, and he's intimidated the photogs into silence.

Bruce Jenner underwent surgery for skin cancer on his nose earlier this week ... TMZ has learned.

Our Kardashian-Jenner family sources tell us Bruce had a chunk of tissue removed from his nose on Monday ... and the procedure required 30 stitches.

Bruce was spotted with some serious bandages while getting his morning coffee Tuesday in Calabasas -- and everyone's been wondering what the deal is.

We're told doctors attribute the cancer to sun damage -- remember, Bruce plays a lot of golf.

Bruce underwent the same procedure back in 2012 -- that time the cancerous tissue was on the side of his face -- and docs warned him to use better protection.

Scott Disick -- last seen using Benjies as TP --- may have employment plans sans the Kardashians ... 'cause his buddy Tyga says the lord's gonna be a rapper!

The guys were waiting for Lord Disick's Lambo (naturally) outside Hakkasan in Bev Hills last night ... when Tyga dropped the bomb, "Scott's coming out with a new rap album."

Tyga even claimed he's producing the tracks -- but doesn't say much more about the alleged project.

Check the clip, Tyga might be kidding -- but if not ... Scott's got plenty of cred.

Kanye West is getting prosecuted for screwing with a photographer's equipment at LAX, but Lamar Odom basically did the same thing and he's not facing criminal charges ... and TMZ knows why.

Law enforcement sources tell TMZ ... honchos in the L.A. City Attorney's Office cut Lamar a break because this is the first time he ever went on the attack against a paparazzo. You'll recall Lamar went into a photog's car and chucked his camera equipment into the street, damaging it. Lamar has been ordered to attend an informal hearing but will NOT face criminal charges.

Our sources say the reason they're going after Kanye is his history of attacking photographers. Specifically, the City Attorney has zeroed in on another incident at LAX back in 2008, when he grabbed a photog's camera and threw it to the ground. The case was filed, but later dismissed after Kanye paid for the repair.

Scott Disick's latest despicable act -- bragging he uses hundred dollar bills as toilet paper -- has us thinking he's so damn awful ... he's actually charming.

So, why doesn't that policy apply to all celebs? Rhymes with schmacism ... maybe???

Scott Disick hates poor people.

He also hates the middle class ... and also the barely rich.

In fact, Scott hates all un-super rich people so much ... he posted a bunch of photos this weekend in what appeared to be a blitzkreig to mock them ... starting with the wads of $100 bills he uses to wipe his ass.

He posted pics of diamond jewelry, expensive watches and wads of cash ... along with captions like, "Hello, peasant's is that u?" He included the hash tag, "f**ku."

Sure it's tasteless. Sure it's crass ... but it's also kind of awesome.

So, we gotta ask ...

Khloe Kardashian still has deep feelings for the man she threw out of their house, because TMZ has learned she was terrified after hearing rumors Lamar Odom may have OD'd on crack.

Rumors were circulating late last week that Lamar had OD'd and was dying ... not all that unbelievable considering his drug addiction ... and when Khloe heard about it she freaked.

We're told Khloe "panicked" and began power dialing Lamar's cell phone, but it kept going to voicemail. She then started calling his friends -- a bunch of them -- trying to figure out if the rumor was true.

She finally got Lamar on the phone. He was at their downtown loft and said he was fine and the rumor was false.

We're told at that point Khloe pulled back and reiterated -- Lamar could not come back home unless he got treatment for his drug addiction. The call ended shortly thereafter.

Lots going on this week. George Zimmerman is a menace to his community -- so says the police chief. Dina Lohan ended up in the drunk tank. Selma Blair is out for blood after getting sacked from "Anger Management." So we gotta ask ...

Lamar Odom had no intention of cleaning pots and pans when he and his driver bought Chore Boy this week ... it was one of the tools of his crack trade ... so claims his summer roommate.

Polina Polonsky hooked up with Lamar in June and July after meeting him at the Roosevelt Hotel in Hollywood. He moved into her apartment for 6 weeks and during that time Polina says he was doing crack.

Polina tells us, Chore Boy was always laying around the apartment when Lamar was there ... and she claims she's seen him use the pads multiple times to fashion homemade crack pipes. In fact, she says her apartment was regularly littered with copper pad scraps and old boxes while Lamar lived there.

Bottom line ... all signs point to Lamar's crack problem still going strong, with no let up in sight.

Kanye West has been charged with criminal battery and attempted grand theft for allegedly attacking a paparazzo at LAX on July 19 ... TMZ has learned.

Kanye went off on the photog ... who dared to speak with him as he left the airport. The photog went to the hospital and has filed a lawsuit. The photog hired Gloria Allred, who has said the attack left her client badly injured.

Just days before the attack Kanye issued multiple warnings to the paparazzi NOT to speak to him.

If convicted of both misdemeanors ... Kanye faces a maximum of 1 year in jail.

He'll be arraigned October 10th.

We attempted to reach Kanye's lawyer, Blair Berk, but her assistant said she was unavailable "because it's the highest holy day of the year for Jews" and she was at services.

Lamar Odom has just been charged with 1 count of DUI ... TMZ has learned.

TMZ broke the story ... Lamar was arrested August 30 at 3:25 AM on the 101 Freeway after cops saw him driving too slow. He flunked several field sobriety tests and was then cuffed and taken to jail, where he REFUSED to submit to a blood alcohol test.

The fact that he refused the blood alcohol test actually helped him ... in that normally a defendant would be charged with 2 counts of DUI -- driving under the influence and driving with .08 or higher.

Here's the bad news -- By refusing to take the test ... Lamar will have his driver's license suspended for 1 year.

As we first reported, law enforcement sources told us they believed Lamar was under the influence of both drugs and alcohol.

If convicted ... the likely outcome would be probation and an alcohol ed course since he's a first-time offender. These cases are almost always plea bargained.

Lamar will be arraigned on Sept. 27.