[2] He was best known for his association with the trio Air with Henry Threadgill and Steve McCall, and for his numerous performances and extensive recordings with major jazz musicians such as Muhal Richard Abrams, Arthur Blythe, Oliver Lake, and David Murray.
"[6] Howard Reich, writing in the Chicago Tribune, stated that "many connoisseurs considered [Hopkins] the most accomplished jazz bassist of his generation" and praised him for "the extraordinarily fluid technique, sumptuous tone and innovative methods he brought to his instrument.
[13] He also joined the AACM, immersed himself in New York's loft scene,[3] and, over the following decades, increasingly gained recognition, gigging with Roy Haynes[12] and performing and recording with artists such as Muhal Richard Abrams, Hamiet Bluiett, Anthony Braxton, Marion Brown, Arthur Blythe, Oliver Lake, David Murray, Diedre Murray, and Don Pullen, as well as with various groups led by Threadgill.
[12] In 1997, he moved back to Chicago,[1] stating that he "got tired of the stress" of living in New York, and reuniting with "ten brothers and sisters and 35 nieces and nephews".
[3] With Air With Ahmed Abdullah With Muhal Richard Abrams With Hamiet Bluiett With Arthur Blythe With Charles Brackeen With Peter Brötzmann and Rashied Ali With Peter Brötzmann and Hamid Drake With Marion Brown With John Carter With Andrew Cyrille With Marc Edwards With Kahil El'Zabar With The Group (Ahmed Abdullah, Marion Brown, Billy Bang, Sirone, Hopkins, Andrew Cyrille) With Craig Harris With Tyrone Henderson With Michael Gregory Jackson With Frank Lacy With Oliver Lake Performing music of Anne LeBaron With Michael Marcus With Kalaparusha Maurice McIntyre With Marcello Melis With Jemeel Moondoc With Butch Morris With David Murray With Sunny Murray's Untouchable Factor With Bern Nix With Ivo Perelman With Don Pullen With Horace Tapscott With Malachi Thompson With Henry Threadgill With Tom Varner With the World Bass Violin Ensemble With the World Saxophone Quartet With Various artists