ARREST WARRANT ISSUED FOR LIL FLIP

Lil' Flip skipped ... and the judge tripped.

The rapper -- who's accused of gun and drug possession -- no-showed at a hearing yesterday, and the judge reacted by holding him in contempt and issuing an arrest warrant.

A source close to Flip said he was unaware he had a hearing ... and he told TMZ his lawyer is working to clear this silly little thing up.

Flip was busted Christmas night for speeding ... and cops allegedly found weed and an AR-15 rifle in the car. He told TMZ he has a license for the gun, and insists the blunts were just a special kind of tobacco.

Leprechaun On The Lam.....

SOURCE