Green’s Dictionary of Slang

(US black) a young (black) man.

1994		Rebennack & Rummel Under A Hoodoo Moon 251: Things have changed a lot since I was a little up-and-coming weed hopper from the Third Ward trying to play a little music.
1997		Simon & Burns Corner (1998) 523: Faces are different [...] Nothin’ but a bunch of young boys, hoppers who just don’t know.
2008		R. Price Lush Life 381: Them hoppers don’t know shit. What you need .