Imagine that a hip-hop song inspired by a successful marriage-equality ballot initiative became one of pop’s biggest hits. Now picture the rapper behind it bringing an underground king like Big K.R.I.T. and a Golden Era legend like Talib Kweli as his fiery opening acts.

And if that rapper headlining the date did all this with an independent, self-released debut studio album? Why, this MC must be a revolutionary.

So how strange that Macklemore -- an apple-cheeked rapper who advocates for gay marriage, self-awareness of privilege and personal financial responsibility -- is one of pop’s most mocked villains.