Mullen

A person or subject in a given industry or field of interest who is of exceptional quality, but also stands out among its peers for its departure from the norm. Named after professional skateboarder Rodney Mullen for being a notable example of this phenomenon.

Mullens tend to draw the favoritism of newcomers or outsiders in their particular field due to their novelty. Newcomers may also misidentify Mullens as a "unique" or "quirky" choice as a favorite. As a result, more knowledgeable insiders may look down on favoring Mullens.

"Hey Anthony, who's your favorite rapper?"
"MF Doom. He's the best."
"Oh, yeah, he's great but kind of a Mullen."