King Combs talked to TMZ today at LAX where he was confident his dad won't have to serve his full 50-month sentence.

The 27-year-old rapper said the family will be playing his song " Diddy Free" throughout the holidays ... and King also told us they might not have to ... "Watch out, he might come home before then." CBS NEWS

King told us his dad is doing well behind bars ... but he's still keeping his fingers crossed for an early release.

The 56-year-old mogul does look healthy and relatively happy in new video and pics we've obtained of him at Fort Dix in New Jersey. Play video content

As you know ... Diddy is doing time after a jury found him guilty on 2 federal counts of transporting people across state lines for prostitution.

If he does get to be home soon it'll be des

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