Musical innovation – like most innovation – happens when the status quo is (creatively) smashed to pieces.
Sure, you can break rules without knowing them. But how do you know that you’re innovating, rather than practicing poor technique?
The best people that break rules are strategic about what they try and go break next. They know what the rules are for.
Rules are there so you can creatively smash them to pieces. Learn them first, and you can break them better than any one else.