Bad Brains Yes. One of the few American bands to recognise the socio political ties between the Punk and Reggae ethos and still sound good.

Sonic Youth Just about Yes. There was and has been since a lot of bands that sent the VU meters into the red with distortion and feedback but they certainly have led many fans to delve into the scene with enthusiasm.

Bob Marley and the Wailers Like Bulldog I prefer lots more Reggae than Marley and a lot of kudos should go to Island Records for pushing Reggae onto the masses. However if the tunes weren't there in the first place then no one would have listened anyhow so yes.

Beastie BoysYes. A Hip Hop band that began as a Hardcore band and still kept that ethos going with using live instrumentation for their later beats and instantly recogniseable. Made a few duff tracks and their humour sometimes overshadows their music but The Sounds Of Science double anthology is one of the finest compilations out there.

Buddy Holly Abstain. I appreciate he has lot's of fans and is influential but I never listen to him.

The Notorious B.I.G. No. I can think of far more productive and influential hip Hop artists that pushed the envelope. Flow is only one aspect of Hip Hop and I'm sure that if he had lived he would have succumbed to mediocrity in joining the multitude of artists that have let ego and commercialism overshadow their original talents. That may or may not be true but there are many more artists worthy.

These are my votes and they're based on who I enjoy listening to. I'm pretty sure that's how this is supposed to work, but it's still sorta confusing when I look at other peoples vote explanations. Whatever though.

Bad Brains
Yeah. Not so much recently, but I used to listen to these guys quite a lot. They're blend of genre's is awesome, as others have said already and so I think they deserve it.

Sonic Youth
Have to abstain here. I don't think I've a single song of theirs.

Bob Marley and the Wailers
No. I know he's iconic, I know that he's cool. I've also heard many of his hits multiple times, and while I would never call them 'bad', they've never had me interested enough to check out more of his work either. :(

Beastie Boys
Yes. What's not to like? Amazing style, songs, albums, and videos. How anyone can not enjoy their music enough to vote them in has me baffled, but different strokes and all that.

Buddy Holly
See Bob Marley.

The Notorious B.I.G.
Based on his music alone, it would actually be a toss-up for me. But his life and death, and all the details surrounding it, turn the vote over to a yes.

Bad Brains
Probably one of the few bands I refuse to listen to and care to investigate even less. Abstain.

Sonic Youth
Don't really listen to them, but why not? They were the coolest band around for a decade and did a great deal to promote indie (as in "independent") rock. Yes.

Bob Marley and the Wailers
I've heard worse, and though Bob Marley fans tend to aggravate my every nerve there's no doubt he had a wide and far-reaching influence on reggae and music across all spectra. Yes.

Beastie Boys
Do not like. Abstain.

Buddy Holly
Frankly I'm surprised how he's managed to stay out this long. Yes.

The Notorious B.I.G.
Two records, however inflated they may be, does not a legend make. Sorry, not my thing. No.

Bad Brains: Yes because I like them and pushed forward hardcore, one of my favorite genres.

Sonic Youth: No because they suck and influence people that suck

Bob Marley and the Wailers: Yes because they are one of the few reggae acts I like.

Beastie Boys: Abstain

Buddy Holly: Abstain

The Notorious B.I.G.: Yes because he's better than Tupac, and he's supposedly a god of rap

You refuse to listen to them? Is there a reason behind this?

Since the criteria here is entirely based on preference.

Bad Brains: Yes, I like them and I appreciate their influence even if modern hardcore is the worst thing ever.

Sonic Youth: Definetely, a consistantly solid band throughout the decades.

Bob Marley and the Wailers: Yes, I don't know a whole lot about reggae and I don't think you have to be to be a Marley fan, maybe that's why it's so hip to hate on him now because accessibility and popularity is always equated to badness. Even if I didn't like Marley and I do, I would vote yes anyway out of spite.

Beastie Boys: Yes, though Paul's Botique is overrated and I don't think it's THAT much better than their other albums.

Buddy Holly: Abstain. I admire him, consider him a great talent and appreciate his influence but I never ever listen to him.

The Notorious B.I.G.: Yes, I never cared for Tupac, and Biggie is easily my favorite solo rapper from the 90s.

Bad Brains-ehh, i'm going to have to say No. i never found their too much of their stuff that special. even with the reggae influences it felt like they were tacked on at the last minute to their music. not saying i hate their stuff, just that it hasn't moved me really.

Sonic Youth-Yes, in both their sound and songwriting.

Bob Marley and the Wailers-Yes. while Bob has influenced numerous college kids to smoke pot, wear T-Shirts with his face on it and claim he's their favorite artist when they only have Legend, you still have to admit that the group made some great music.

Beastie Boys-Yes, a signature style that both opened doors and kept an identity all their own. plus Paul's Boutique i feel is one of the best hip hop records to date

Buddy Holly-Abstain

The Notorious B.I.G.-Abstain

:yikes: ..are you dead inside?

I have commented on all my nominations (or not) of these so I'll just vote this way:

Buddy Holly: No

All others: Yes

Bad Brains
N/A

Sonic Youth
Very much yes, one of my favourite 80s bands. There're a certain rawness to their music that many bands attempt to achieve, but very few succeed in.

Bob Marley and the Wailers
No, very dull and uninspiring music, as well as being a major front figure of one of the most reactionary religions in the world.

Beastie Boys
N/A

Buddy Holly
Yes, had a very catchy sound and a very big heart in his music.

The Notorious B.I.G.
N/A

I'm not even the hugest fan of Bad Brain's reggae. Sure, it's good, and definitely one of their selling points, but it's their hardcore that really draws me in. As far as I'm concerned, they did hardcore better than any of the other first wave bands. They were catchier, more musically interesting, and HR's vocals were easily the most unique of that era (Jello Biafra comes close though). The fact that they did Reggae is really just an added bonus for me.